News - The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the man who will soon be ruling on the landmark U.S. case over same-sex marriage in the state of California is gay himself.

The paper reports that the 65-year old Judge Vaughn Walker has never tried to disguise or advertise his sexual orientation but also wonders what the backers of Proposition 8 think of this.

There is no doubt that if Walker decides that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional, conservatives will take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court and federal appeals court.

Openly gay state senator Mark Leno said:"I have great respect for Judge Walker, professionally and personally." He doesn't think that Walker's orientation is an issue.

Kate Kendell, head of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, says: "There is nothing about Walker as a judge to indicate that his sexual orientation, other than being an interesting factor, will in any way bias his view."

The San Fran Chronicle also confirmed that the case was assigned to Walker randomly. Walker did not seek out the case.