The California Supreme Court agreed to consider three lawsuits that challenge the legality of Proposition 8’s abolition of same-sex weddings. The challenges were filed in the days after the amendment passed on November 4.

The Supreme Court refused requests to allow same-sex marriages to resume pending on a ruling.

Thousands of people protested against the ban on gay marriages that was passed 52.5% to 47.5%. Proposition 8 stated that marriage in California can only take place between a man and a woman. The constitutional amendment was approved by voters in the state of California.

The court announced its intention to decide the fate of more than 18,000 same-sex weddings that were performed in the past five months.

A campaign battle over same-sex marriage in California will have repercussions across the nation. A decision by the same court in May opened marriage to same-sex couples in America’s most populous state. In May, the Supreme Court overturned the legislative ban on same-sex marriage on grounds that it violated constitutional guarantees of equality.

Gay advocates argued that Californians could not strip a right from a minority with only a majority vote. Those who filled the challenges say that such a measure sets an example that could lead to other minority groups to lose some of their rights. They say the ban was unconstitutional because it discriminates against people on the basis of sexual preferences.

Gay rights advocates are decided to focus their efforts on fighting the discriminatory amendment that would take away marriage equality for same-sex couples.