Former marriage equality plaintiffs speak out on historic ruling

PLACENTIA, Calif. (KABC) -- An Orange County couple, who were plaintiffs in a Tennessee marriage equality case, spoke out on Friday about the Supreme Court's historic ruling on gay marriage.

Matthew Mansell and Johno Espejo have reason to celebrate. They met in 1995 and married in 2008, when for a brief time, same-sex marriage was legal in California.

They say the years since then haven't been easy, with the legality of same-sex marriage in limbo.

The situation was made worse when three years ago, the couple moved to Tennessee.

"It was aggravating, anywhere you go with the kids or going out to restaurants we were looked upon as different," Espejo said.

They've been back for about six months and are now living in Orange County with their two children, Wyatt and Elyse.

Up until this morning, Tennessee was among the 14 states that still enforced a ban on same-sex marriages.

While living there, the couple decided to fight and joined two other couples as plaintiffs in the Tennessee marriage equality case.

With Friday's ruling, Mansell and Espejo couldn't be happier.

"This is who we are," Espejo said. "Let's move on."