Gay groups are positive that the Idaho and Nevada marriage bans will be overturned after a federal appeals court on Monday went into an extensive debate about civil rights.

The San Francisco 9th U.S. Circuit Court of appeals waded into a debate regarding whether the judges in the states of Nevada and Idaho were right in enforcing the marriage bans.

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Three other federal appeals courts have already overturned same-sex marriage bans in other states.

Legal director John Davidson of gay advocacy group, Lambda Legal, said the case was getting "easier and easier" to win, while other gay rights lawyers appeared more positive and relaxed as they entered the Nevada court room.

In Idaho, National Center for Lesbian Rights head Kate Kendell, who represented Idaho's gay couples was wearing a big grin when the hearing started.

The three Democrat-appointed judges of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court included Stephen Reinhardt, who was among those who brought down the gay marriage ban in California in 2012.

The other two judges were Ronald Gould and Marsha Berzon, who are both advocates of gay civil rights.

During the court hearing, Monte Neil Stewart, the lawyer defending the same-sex marriage bans in Nevada and Idaho, said children raised from opposite-sex marriages benefit more than those raised from same-sex marriages.

But Berzon questioned Stewart's defense, saying that it implied gay marriages were "second-rate families."

"What you are doing is you are sending a message that they are less desirable families," the judge said, adding that gay marriage bans is equal to gender discrimination.

In addition, Reindhart said that those who are attracted to the same sex "also have the right to live their lives as human beings."

A ruling may be given at any moment.

At present there are 20 states, including California that allow gay marriage.

In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court extended the Defense of Marriage Acts, which give federal benefits to couples and same-sex partners as well. 

Tagsgay groups, marriage bans, gay marriage bans, Idaho, Nevada, gay marriage, lambda legal, appeals court