California's Supreme Court has just announced that it will not stay the landmark ruling it made last month, which overturned the state's ban on gay marriage. This latest decision means that same-sex couples could be able to wed in California as soon as June 17.

Conservative groups opposed to gay marriage, joined by 10 state attorneys general, had asked that the ruling be stayed until after state residents go to the polls in November and vote on an amendment to California's Constitution that would effectively override the court's decision. Their argument was that allowing gay marriages to occur before the vote would lead to legal confusion if the amendment passed.

This is also most likely a political loss for gay marriage opponents, as voters on the fence about the issue may be swayed by images of gay couples being happily wed, or by simply knowing gay couples who decide to get married.

By a vote of 4-3, the same margin as in its original ruling, the court also denied a petition to rehear the case.