As expected, lawyers fighting to protect Proposition 8, the California ban on gay marriage, have appealed Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling, which overturned the marriage ban Wednesday, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

Walker's decision overturned Prop. 8, using strong language to affirm the right of gays and lesbians to marry.

The appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals comes even as gay rights demonstrators turned out across the state to celebrate the ruling Wednesday. (See the Weekly's coverage of the rallies.)

Walker gave the legal teams until Friday to offer arguments about whether he should immediately block enforcement of Prop.8, thus allowing gay marriages to proceed, or put his ruling on hold while the appeals process plays out.

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