Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling striking down the voter-backed ban on gay marriage in California has provoked responses from everyone, from Ellen DeGeneres to the guy buying bagels at a West Hollywood deli. Here are some of GayNZ.com's favourite reactions: Ellen DeGeneres on Twitter: "This just in: Equality won!" Portia de Rossi in a statement: "I am ecstatic that proposition 8 has been overturned in the state of California. This is an incredibly exciting and historical day and a big step towards equal rights for all." Lady Gaga on Twitter: "At the moments notice of PROP 8 DEATH I instantly began to write music. REJOICE and CELEBRATE gay communities and straight all over the world. Our voices are being heard! Loud! SCREAM LOUD AMERICANOS!" Lady Gaga on Twitter again: "Huge day for us!!!! F*ck #Prop8! Equality rules!!!!" Glee's Jane Lynch to Access Hollywood: "I hope that it's positive, and if it gets to the Supreme Court, I hope that turns out to be positive too. It's a wave you can't stop. It's going to happen and people have to just come along." Adam Lambert on Twitter: "We're gonna throw glitter on this barn tonight!!!" Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation president Jarrett Barrios to The Advocate: "More and more Americans are supporting equality, and it is the stories of same-sex couples that are leading that charge across the nation. Today's decision comes after same-sex couples from across California shared their personal stories with Judge Vaughn Walker and the public, helping to show that all loving and committed couples — straight and gay — should have the same opportunity to take care of and be responsible for each other. We urge media to highlight the couples impacted by today's decision to grant them the liberty and equality upon which our nation was founded." Shelly Bailes, a 69-year-old San Francisco woman who has been with her partner for 36 years, to the San Francisco Chronicle: "A battle won is a battle won. Today isn't the end, but it puts us one step closer to giving us full rights." Proposition 8 supporters In the interests of being 'fair and balanced' (sigh), here's what the other side is saying ... Focus on the Family, statement: "Judge Walker's ruling raises a shocking notion that a single federal judge can nullify the votes of more than 7 million California voters, binding Supreme Court precedent, and several millennia-worth of evidence that children need both a mom and a dad." Catholic Church, statement: "It is tragic that a federal judge would overturn the clear and expressed will of the people in their support for the institution of marriage. No court of civil law has the authority to reach into areas of human experience that nature itself has defined." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) in a statement: "California voters have twice been given the opportunity to vote on the definition of marriage in their state and both times have determined that marriage should be recognized as only between a man and a woman. We agree. Marriage between a man and a woman is the bedrock of society." “We recognise that this decision represents only the opening of a vigorous debate in the courts over the rights of the people to define and protect this most fundamental institution—marriage." D Woolsey in the comments section on Fox News website: "I wish to marry my goldfish. I realize that biologically we can not have children so we plan to adopt." Margaret Cho gets the last laugh All that aside, who has worded this GayNZ.com writer's very favourite response? Comedian Margaret Cho, of course! Who can ever sum things up more, ah, succinctly, than Ms Cho?! Margaret Cho to The Advocate: "I'm glad about the court's ruling that Prop. 8 is unconstitutional, but to me, this has been obvious for a long time. I am sick of having to bend to people's "religious" views, especially when they are so hateful and insane. Now when people try to say that they don't believe in gay marriage because of their religious beliefs, I just say "fuck you." I think this is the proper way to deal with people like this. Please join me in my new "well fuck you then" campaign. We must have our rights. We must have equality! Fuck them!" Jacqui Stanford - 6th August 2010