Hope and Fear in Gay Marriage Cases at High Court

WASHINGTON (AP) — Gay marriage supporters see 41 reasons to fret over the Supreme Court's decision to take up the case of California's ban on same-sex unions.

While nine states allow same-sex partners to marry, or will soon, 41 states do not. Of those, 30 have written gay marriage bans into their state constitutions.

That fact is worrisome to those who firmly believe in a constitutional right to marry, regardless of sexual orientation, but who also know that the Supreme Court does not often get well ahead of the country on hot-button social issues.

The justices will hear cases this term on California's Proposition 8 and a federal law that prevents gay couples from receiving federal benefits for married people.