the federal appeals court yesterday ruled against the ban saying it lessens the status and human dignity of gays. edward morris has our report. >> reporter: people outside the federal courthouse in san francisco cheered and hugged after judges ruled california's ban on same sex marriage is unconstitutional. >> overjoyed. we knew in our hearts that proposition 8 violate the law of love. >> in a 2-1 decision the ninth u.s. circuit court of appeals upheld a ruling that proposition 8 violates of civil rights of gay and lesbian couples. >> we feel vindicated. >> plaintiffs filed the lawsuit to fight the ban on same sex marriage. >>> there's nothing more important than moving ahead, getting closure, getting rid of prop 8 and rid of discrimination and being able to get married. >>> during the four-month period they were legal in 2008 an estimated 18,000 couples tied the knot. but voters put a stop to same sex weddings when they backed proposition 8. >> we'll appeal to the supreme court. >> the legal fight is far from over. he leads the project marriage coalition. >> we are simply protecting the