Randy Stephens remembers gathering with 5,000 other people at Lake Eola last summer to celebrate the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to allow federal benefits to legally married gay couples.

At the home, though, the thought of same-sex couples actually getting married in Florida was just a hope.

"I thought, with most people, hopefully we'll have it within five years," Stephens said. "And people thought I was crazy thinking we could get it in five years. It's a year-and-a-half later, and we're right here on the cusp of it."

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday night issued a ruling saying it would not intervene to stop a federal judge's ruling who previously declared Florida's ban on same-sex marriage to be unconstitutional. That ruling allows same-sex marriage licenses to be issued after Jan. 5.

News 13 legal analyst Jaya Balani, of NeJame Law, said Friday's ruling from the highest court in the land is significant.

"I believe it was a 7-2 ruling," Balani said. "That's a good majority saying that Florida — no stay — you need to fix this and try to get in line with other states."

There is confusion, however, as to whether the ruling applies to all Florida counties or just Washington County — which is the only county named in the original lawsuit challenging Florida's statewide ban. The state county clerk's association has warned clerks that they could face misdemeanor charges if they issue same-sex marriage licenses. Most county clerks in Central Florida said they are going to wait for a clear signal from the state on what they can legally do.

That direction could come from Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has fought to protect the state's same-sex marriage ban.

"Pam Bondi wants to have a uniform, across the board ... to where all counties are treating it the same," Balani said. "Some counties are saying we're going to wait. Some counties are saying 12:01 (a.m. on Jan. 6). Some counties are saying they want to be the first in the state to marry a gay couple. So, there's a lot of inconsistencies going on, so there's still time to lay it out and see how it's going to be."

Stephens marries his husband in Washington, D.C. He wants his marriage to be recognized in Florida, too. He's hoping the federal judge who declared Florida's ban unconstitutional will clarify that his ruling applies to all Florida counties.

"I really don't know of any state attorney that would turn around and prosecute a clerk of the court for issuing it, but there's always that small threat there that you have to take into consideration," Stephens said.