Announcing AirTalk's inaugural 'Californian of the Year': Prop 8 plaintiffs

Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo, plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case that overturned California's same-sex marriage ban, became the first gay couple to wed in Los Angeles since 2008 at City Hall. Former mayor Antonio Villaraigosa officiated the ceremony.

The listeners of AirTalk have spoken: the Prop 8 plaintiffs -- Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo joined Sandy Stier and Kris Perry -- are our inaugural Californian of the Year.

It's been a big year in the gay rights movement and two couples here in California stepped into the spotlight to make history.

Back in 2009 when Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo joined Sandy Stier and Kris Perry to challenge the constitutionality of Proposition 8, they became the face of the fight for marriage equality in California and across the nation.

It took four years of legal back and forth but the couples fighting against Prop 8 finally won in June when the Supreme Court declared the law unconstitutional. Two days later, Katami and Zarrillo rushed to city hall to be married by then-Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

The two couples became the face of a movement and - together with a formidable legal team - brought down Prop 8, putting them at the top of the list for Californians of the Year!

Guest:

Paul Katami, Prop 8 plaintiff

Jeff Zarrillo, Prop 8 plaintiff