A Florida judge made dreams come true today when she ruled that the state’s law prohibiting gay couples from adopting counts as unconstitutional.

In her 53-page ruling, Judge Cindy Lederman struck down the state’s offensive argument that there was "a supposed dark cloud hovering over homes of homosexuals and their children," and made clear that she sees no reason for the 31-year-old ban. Wrote Lederman, "There is no ‘morality’ interest with regard to one group of individuals permitted to form the visage of a family in one context but prohibited in another. There is no rational basis to prohibit gay parents from adopting."

Much of the state’s argument rested on testimony that same-sex couples are more likely to do drugs and alcohol and that kids in such homes would be ostracized from their peers. The American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics all disagreed.

While surely this is good news for gay people — and universal equality — state attorneys have already filed an appeal, which means Lederman’s ruling could be just the beginning of a protracted legal battle. In the meantime, however, the couple that filed the suit can now adopt their two foster children, who are four and eight. No doubt they’ll have a happy Thanksgiving!