The sublime and the ridiculous. The first same sex marriages have made many people happy but have also brought out the blathering idiots. Luckily none of the closeminded arguments that they make have any legal background. — Jezebel

Vote winner. The legalization of gay marriage in California opens up same-sex marriage as an election issue. Some believe it could help Republican nominee John McCain secure more of the conservative vote, but it won’t be the political force that it was for George Bush in 2004. — McClatchy

Sulu no longer solo. Former Star Trek actor George Takei was first in line to buy a marriage licence after the ban on gay marriage was lifted. Takei, 71, who played Mr Sulu on the cult TV show, will marry long time partner Brad Altman later this year. — Yellow Menace

Cashing in. Allowing gay marriage could have another benefit that many people have overlooked – financial. It’s estimated that gay weddings could generate $1 billion for the state of California, with 35% of the state’s 110,000 gay couples set to wed in the first year of gay marriage being sanctioned. — Tango