A state decision that paved the way for gay and lesbian couples to wed since mid-June has sparked much controversy across California.

Locally in Selma, opinions seem to vary from for, against to no opinion at all on the issue.

In May, The California Supreme Court decided to overturn a ban on gay marriage, prompting many gay and lesbian couples to wed. Licenses became available on June 17.

In Selma, two same-sex couples have applied for marriage license's with the Fresno County clerk's office and were granted them on June 20, said Victor Salazar, Fresno County Clerk.

Jim Otey, of Selma, intends to apply for a license.

"Since I'm gay and my partner and I have been together seven years, I completely support it," he said.

Otey -- who works as a writer for the Web site pollstar.com -- said he and his partner, Eric Tiller, plan on marrying at some point, but he doesn't think they'll rush to do it anytime soon.

Still, Otey said he is also worried about Proposition 8, an initiative that will go before voters in November which would reverse the court's decision and define marriage as between a man and a woman.

Still, Otey says, even if the initiative passes, he thinks same-sex marriage will again become legal at some point.

In the end, Otey said, the issue comes down to equality.

"We aren't asking for special treatment," Otey said. "We're asking for rights and privileges that everybody else has."

His partner, Tiller, agrees -- with some added humor to the topic.

"We're just asking for the right to be as miserable as everyone else," he jokingly said.

Pastor Ken Rasmussen with Selma's Valley Life Community Church takes a different stance on the court's recent decision.

"It's unfortunate, especially when you have over a million-plus verified signatures of voters submitted to the state, stating that they were opposed to that ruling," Rasmussen said. "Yet, they still chose to ignore the voice of the people for other private interest groups or political interests."

Because of this, Rasmussen said he thinks voters who disagree with the court decision should voice their opinion on the matter through supporting Proposition 8 this coming November.

"And if the people who are against it don't voice themselves, then they are silently supporting it, which would be an embarrassment to the Judeo-Christian values of what we stand for," Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen also said his church would never wed same-sex couples.

But he did say that he does accept them as equal human beings that deserve respect.

"We love them and respect them as human beings, but could not support, condone or encourage that lifestyle," he said.

Other citizens in Selma have a taken a neutral approach to the issue.

"We do not take a stand on political issues," said Pastor Janet Chapman with Selma's First Christian Church.

Chapman also said that her congregation is very diverse and that there are some people who approve of gay marriage and some who don't.

"In our church, we agree to disagree on political issues, which this is," she said.

Because of this, Chapman also said her church accepts all kinds of people into their congregation.

"We seek not to judge, but to welcome all people in an open and loving stance as Christ would," Chapman said.

In regards to wedding same-sex couples in her church, Chapman declined to coment.

Similarly, Selma City Councilman Dennis Lujan has a neutral view of the issue.

"It's none of my business to approve or disapprove of their choice," he said.

Though, Lujan did say he thinks that one of the motivating factors for same-sex couples to get married was for legal reasons, such as being under one person's insurance plan or for the future transfer of pensions.

Lujan also said he thinks same-sex marriage is a non-issue to the average person and said that he hasn't heard a single conversation at his barbershop related to the court decision.

Regardless, Lujan also said he wishes the new couples well.

"I wish them no ill will," he said. "I wish them only the best."