San Francisco, CA-- Proponents of gay marriage continue to fight the voter approved Prop. 8 that bans gay marriage in the state of California.

A request for a preliminary injunction against the ban on gay marriage was in a U.S. District Court in San Francisco, was denied Thursday morning.

Gay marriage supporters were hoping a federal judge would lift the ban, which lawyers say violates federal equal rights laws for unmarried couples.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker denied the request, but moved forward with plan to fast-track case directly to trial.

Both Governor Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown have been named as defendants in the lawsuit, because they say a temporary injunction against the ban "would create confusion for couples and
the state."

In November of 2008, opponents of gay marriage put Prop. 8 on the ballot to challenge an earlier State Supreme Court ruling in favor of gay marriage.

52-percent of California voters approved the measure.

(Information from the Associated Press)