This ignores the federal benefits of marriage (taxation and immigration, for instance), as well as the fact that DOMA allows states to ignore gay marriages performed in other states.
As with civil rights legislation, federal laws arise out of the experimentation of states. California's move in favour of gay marriage (disgracefully late; 5 other states + DC already have it) is widely recognized as a stepping-stone to a federal ruling on the matter.
So: it's both untrue to say that gays in California have equal rights, and were it true it would be irrelevant anyway.
As with civil rights legislation, federal laws arise out of the experimentation of states. California's move in favour of gay marriage (disgracefully late; 5 other states + DC already have it) is widely recognized as a stepping-stone to a federal ruling on the matter.
So: it's both untrue to say that gays in California have equal rights, and were it true it would be irrelevant anyway.