Several groups that fought San Francisco's lawsuit seeking marriage for same-sex couples have now requested that the California Supreme Court delay its decision to allow the marriages until the November election.

The organizations, who include the Proposition 22 Legal Defense Fund and the Alliance Defense Fund, filed a request with the court Thursday afternoon seeking the delay until after the election. It’s at this time that the state's voters will decide on a proposed constitutional amendment to limit marriage to opposite-sex couples.

"Permitting this decision to take effect immediately - in the light of the realistic possibility that the people of California might amend their constitution to reaffirm marriage as the union of one man and one woman - risks legal havoc and uncertainty of immeasurable magnitude," the filing reportedly states.

Lawyers for the city are expected to file a legal response to the request, and a spokesman for San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, said they would fight any delay in issuing the marriage certificates to gay couples.

Many county clerks believe the gay unions could begin as early as June 16.

Although the proposed gay-marriage ban has not been officially added to the November ballot yet, supporters have obtained the necessary signatures.

It is presently unclear what the outcome would be for gay couples who marry between June and November if the initiative passes.

"It is to no one's benefit to redefine marriage for four or five months," said Andrew Pugno, legal counsel for the Proposition 22 Legal Defense Fund.

Read the request for a delay here

Tags: gay, gay marriage, lesbian, US Election