O.C. Couple Among Original Plaintiffs In Federal Suit Celebrate Historic Gay Marriage Ruling

PLACENTIA (CBSLA.com) — Part of the original federal lawsuit that made it to the High Court, a same-sex couple in Orange County celebrated Friday's historic gay marriage ruling.

Following the news that the U.S. Supreme Court had made same-sex marriage legal everywhere in the United States, cellphones started ringing in the Espejo-Mansell household in Placentia.

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"It shows that we're an entire nation," said Matthew Mansell. "I don't have to worry about going to this state and not having the same recognition as somebody else."

That is how the monumental legal battle over gay marriage began with a desire to fight for equality for all.

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When Mansell and Johno Espejo relocated from California to Tennessee for work, they learned their San Francisco marriage was not recognized.

Both now live in Orange County with a son and a daughter and are among the first group of plaintiffs to sue.

The Supreme Court announced Friday morning that gay marriage is lawful in all 50 states.

"The friends that we left, that we care about, that we hung out with, they're able to go on [with] their daily lives and get married and raise your children without being harassed and looked upon as second-class citizens," Espejo said.