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There are several unique legal factors present in the progression of the landmark ruling in the case of Perez versus Sharp (1948) and the creation of Proposition 8 on the California ballot in 2008. Complicating this progression is the unique role of San Francisco's city government which overruled the findings of federal courts and allowed same-sex marriage in their city (Barron, 2218). As a result, there continues to be an influx of homosexual and lesbian couples to San Francisco to become legally married and then carry this status back to their individual states. They are doing this to be able to provide health care and other benefits typically given only to married couples. The argument that gay or lesbian partners are in fact a couple is the at the center of this debate from a philosophical and religious standpoint. As a result, Proposition 8 was the most hotly contested and divisive political issue on the California ballot in 2008, with each side spending nearly $74M to further promote their side of the argument and seek to win over cross-over voters who had not decided. The contention on those looking to ban same-sex marriage is that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. This was