San Francisco Officials Marry Gay Couple

[rodbarnett]

February 12, 2004, 2:49 PM EST


SAN FRANCISCO -- In a political and legal challenge to California law, city authorities officiated at the marriage of a lesbian couple Thursday and said they will issue more gay marriage licenses.

The act of civil disobedience was coordinated by Mayor Gavin Newsom and top city officials and was intended to beat a conservative group to the punch.

The group, Campaign for California Families, had planned to go to court on Friday to get an injunction preventing the city from issuing marriage licenses to gay couples.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-gay-marriage-calif,0,3462374.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[Atlant]

1. Well, that should liven up the debate a little!

This is historic.

Way to go, SF!

Cue up the Tony Bennett!

Atlant

[GinaMaria]

21. a little gasoline on the fire

This is getting good. Nice to see people taking a stand opposite the right wing.

[Mari333]

2. HA! Spot on!

Go SF officials...!

[DU9598]

4. As much as I love my home

I may yet end up in the Golden State. Congrats California. You are slowly gaining back some respect after your governator recall episode.

[Atlant]

5. You can't lay that blame at San Francisco's feet. THEY knew better! :-)

[shamanstar]

77. EXACTLY!

SAN fran was so highly against the recall along with northern cali, it isnt even funny. the state is too big.

[ronnykmarshall]

3. Alright Gavin!

Guess the ol' ball and chain and I need to take a trip back home and get hitched again.

[Taeger]

6. You can always find a gay person ...

Do you bay folks not REALIZE that this is HELPING Republicans??????? God dammit, can't you folks just cool it on the parades and marches until AFTER the election??????

The more gays go out and "challenge" the law, the more militant you appear. The more militant you appear, the more press coverage you will get. The more press coverage you get, the more threatened people will feel. The more people feel culturally threatened, the more they will vote Republican!!!!

This is a SERIOUS wedge issue. They are trying to wedge it down the center of the electorate.

But if you push this issue too hard, Democrats will push it leftward and wedge your asses right out of significance. From a political standpoint, I'd be VERY happy to trade the 2-5% of voting gays for 20-25% of middle America who DO NOT WANT homosexual marriage!!!!!!

[ronnykmarshall]

8. WHAT???

Cool it on the parades? What the hell does THAT mean.

Oh, I know why don't all us evil homersexual just hide in the FUCKING closet for the next year??

[Taeger]

Just until after the election

If you could keep a low profile until after the election, it will help.

The gay community is doing THE EXACT OPPOSITE right now. You are stirring up the rubes and it WILL HURT the Democrats!!!!

Now I'm reading stories about gay activists going into courthouses ACROSS THE NATION and applying for marriage licenses. I'm sure this is for publicity. And for some reason the gay activists think this will HELP their cause.

Well guess what??? You are driving swing voters away from the Democratic party. You will FORCE Democrats to distance themselves from gay and lesbians.

You're fucking up Democrats chances to win the election AND you are fucking up your influence with Democratic leaders.

So please, just cool it for 9 months. A democratic president will be able to VETO that gay bashing bill before it goes to the states. Heck, we could even get a majority in the Senate. But it you drive swing voters AWAY from the Democratic party, that won't happen!!!!

[DrWeird]

17. They said the same things about other civil rights.

You know, the only real reason those negroes are going into white restaurant and having sit ins is that it's just a publicity stunt. They should really just shut up until after the election is over. And then they should shut up for the reelection.

[Zhade]

33. You are so uninformed it's not even funny.

"I'm sure this is for publicity."

Un-fucking-believable.

Ever thought maybe they WANT TO GET MARRIED? Jesus!

[BiggJawn]

37. So, you bought into the "Swing Voter Myth"?

"Swing Voters" are an invention of the RW-controlled press. and you went for it Hook, Line and Sinker.
So this should get shoved back into the closet for the "next 9 months"..

THEN what? You gonna tell everyong to "Cool it" because it's only 4 years to the next election and we don't want to frighten the flighty Swing Voters?

Fuck your "Swing Voters". They're not voting Democrat anyway, and you wanna know why?

Clinton's Penis.

[Terran]

43. You have got to be kidding.

I want to win as badly as the next poerson, but I draw the line at this.

"Would you Negroes PLEASE just shut up until we're in control, so then WE can ignore you like THEY're ignoring you now??" Same damn thing.

[Liberal Veteran]

51. Yes. The gay community is some monolithic entity....

...that all marches in lockstep with one another.

When you refer to the gay community in mass as "you people", "you all" and "you're" you (and I mean you in particular) are basically falling prey to a form of prejudice where you blame ALL gay people for the actions of a single individual.

[Walt Starr]

54. Just a durn minute, Presidents CANNOT VETO Constitutional Amendments

I suggest you get the facts straight.

BTW, how would you feel if you were told you could not marry the person you love?

[LeftHander]

9. WRONG!

WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

This proves that the the neo-cons are just hand maidens to the religious right. The religious right has pushed the issue because they are EFFFING crazy.

I say keep pushing for fairness and justice regardless. If Bush gets reelected because millions of people are homophobic bigots them I say NICE PLAY TIME IS OVER.

Frankly Bush will probably win. He's cheated and lied his way into office more than once with the support of his rich cronies and daddy's connections do you think they haven't already got it figured out? They can do what ever the hell they want the neo-cons are tight and the country is spinning down the gurgler lead by those right wing brown shirts.

I'm voting for Dennis and come november I'll vote against Bush but frankly there are so many people who think Bush is "just this guy". They are so afraid of a voting for a Democrat thanks to the media whores that I think this country is done.

[Terwilliger]

10. interesting

I suppose you would have been like "Stop saying slaves should be free! It's a losing issue! Stop with your nigger pride marches!"

You wait for the Republicans and moralists to frame reality then get pissy when individuals with individual zeal and fortitude decide to be independent.

Why don't you work on ways to convince middle-American sheeple that their puritannical crap should be considered anachronistic in the modern world??

[Zhade]

13. Exactly. Damn insightful post, Terwilliger.

I was disgusted to read that political aspirations are more important than equal rights.

[Taeger]

19. I don't want to have this debate again.

Being gay IS NOT the same thing as being black. Not by a long shot.

When the NAACP endorses solidarity with the Gay and Lesbian alliance, then I'll believe you.

Democrats are TRYING to deliver Civil Unions that will be the same thing as marriage in most respects. Why can't you just ACCEPT it and be happy for a little while?????

It's PROGRESS!!!!! It's a victory!!!!!!

You have to realize that this IS A DEMOCRACY. The vast majority of Americans DON'T WANT gay marriage. You may think it's a civil right. But the GOP can kill that right EVEN IF it does exist with a constitutional amendment. AND YOUR FUCKING MAKING IT HAPPEN!!!!! YOU ARE ARMING THE RIGHT!!!!!

If such a bill is introduced, it WILL be ratified by the states. So please, stop stirring up the issue and giving to the Republicans.

[ronnykmarshall]

26. In other words:

Bend over and TAKE IT???

Correct?

Look, there are people in my state that want to reverse ANY rights I have. You think I'm gonna sit down and shut up??? DREAM ON!!

Yeah, us gays have ruined it all for everyone. BULLSHIT! The gay vote helped Clinton win in 1992 and we'll do it again in 2004.

"Arming the right"?? The only right I'm arming is my right arm and extending my middle finger to anyone that tells me that I don't matter and need to "SHUT UP".

[Zhade]

35. AMEN.

Damn straight. Pun intended!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

56. MY SENTIMENT EXACTLY

[Zhade]

34. Equal protection under the Constitution isn't a matter of majority rule.

I've very sad to see that you appear to think differently.

[mike1963]

39. What "point" are you attempting to make with this vacuous comment:

"Being gay IS NOT the same thing as being black. Not by a long shot."


...

[David__77]

58. But here's where you're wrong...

First, the NAACP has taken pro-gay stances and the Congressional Black Caucus is the staunchest defender of our rights as well.

Second, the House Democrats certainly can block an amendment. It only takes 146 votes there to prevent an amendment. We have, thanks to GOP gerrymandering, enough "safe" districts electing progressives. It certainly can be blocked. We certainly have the opportunity to fight for--and win--marriage rights.

If you do not support marriage rights for same-sex couples--that's fine. The rest of us will fight for it however.

[David__77]

14. I'm sorry you see people as political commodities.

They said the same thing about the African-American civil rights movement. What's right is right. I don't expect our nominee to march in a gay pride parade, but I do expect support for our most basic rights. And, sorry, this fight is already on. We're not going to roll over on this. A loss on an amendment will be a price too high. We will exert maximum pressure to block an anti-marriage rights amendment---there are consequences to this.

Further--you are mistaken in your figures. 5-6% of voters in exit polls identify as LGBT. I think it may be higher. And why do you think that people opposing marriage rights that make that their dividing line issue would support an anti-gay Democrat over an anti-gay Republican? Why not go for the "real bigot?"

[Taeger]

22. You are DEAD wrong

This is NOT an issue of gay bashing.

This is an issue of redefining a VERY traditional parochial and civil institution. There is ZERO precedent for this!!!!!

Many people object to this on SEVERAL levels. Right or wrong is not relevant here. If it's TRULY a civil rights issue, than civil unions should be enough.

But it's not. Gays and Lesbians want to FORCE a redefinition of the term marriage. And MANY, MANY Americans OBJECT VERY STRONGLY to this.

I personally do not agree with them. But I respect their right to disagree. And I respect the fact that they WILL speak their mind.

The left can be just as pig-headed and insulated as the right. They can be just as disrespectful to the feelings, beliefs and attitudes of others. I think this is one such case.

If gays and lesbians try to FORCE this down Americas throat, they will get a backlash like you've NEVER seen before.

So please, be happy with the civil unions and stand pat for a while. At least until Democrats control the White House and one wing of Congress.

[David__77]

27. I would be pleased with civil unions.

But that's not what this is about any more. The struggle has began. The genie is out of the bottle. Sorry, but if this can be accomplished, I'm not concerned about if it's through the courts of the ballot box. I do see it as a civil rights issue. Regardless of precendent. The concept of civil rights is a new thing relatively. This is a good innovation. People need to be educated. I see no need to capitulate to backward thinking on the matter.

[ronnykmarshall]

28. I don't have a problem with civil unions.

However I DO want equal marriage at one point.

What you are failing to understand is the right wing is trying to take even THAT away from us.

In California our Domestic Partner laws are being threatened by the same people. So, are you saying we should just sit down and SHUT UP while they do that?

No dice!

Where you lost me was with is this line of shit that we should "cool it with your parades". FUCK THAT. One day out of the whole goddamn year, we stand toe to toe with our brothers, sisters and freinds with out fear of getting our fucking heads smashed in. So we gotta give that up too?

[Zhade]

41. "And I respect the fact that they WILL speak their mind."

Yet you want GLBT people to remain silent until YOU feel it's okay to speak up?

Fuck that.

You know what? We're not arming the Republicans - YOU ARE. You're supporting their bigotry. Deal with it.

[Walt Starr]

42. I think people who are against homosexuals having the right to be married

should just propose an amendment to the constitution declaring homosexuals to be three-fifths of a person and get it over with.

[Liberal Veteran]

52. Umm....not to put too fine a point on it...

But I can do without your preaching to me and telling me how to live my life.

I am extremely dissappointed that a person who claims to be a democrat would tell the gay community to sit back and settle for being second class citizens and that is exactly what you are doing.

How dare you????

[Missy Vixen]

66. No, I won't

>So please, be happy with the civil unions and stand pat for a while. At least until Democrats control the White House and one wing of Congress.<

My husband and I won't remain quiet. Neither will any other Democrat who cares about the rights of others.

>If gays and lesbians try to FORCE this down Americas throat, they will get a backlash like you've NEVER seen before.<

Gosh, worse than the backlash they already get when they come out to someone who's homophobic? Worse than the fear and prejudice they live with daily from co-workers, neighbors, family, the local church? Worse than the idea that if the partner gets sick (or God forbid, dies,) the survivor has NO rights whatsoever to even enter their loved one's hospital room without the partner's family's permission? There are no property rights, no survivor's rights, no NOTHING.

Of course, this doesn't matter. "Stand pat". I wonder if you'd be quite so dismissive if it were your loved one.

Here's a wakeup call for you: WHY DO YOU THINK 100 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE STOPPED VOTING? Do you think it's because we haven't swung to the right enough yet?

I'm sick to my stomach.

Julie

[not systems]

69. There is ZERO precedent for this? Wrong.

The Netherlands and Canada to name two.

Your post sounds very violent almost like a threat.

Is that what you intend?

[AngelaSavoir]

78. Redefinition of Marriage?

I suggest you go here: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Marriage for the current definition(s) of marriage.

Just because a percentage of very narrow minded people in this country choose to define this word in terms which suit only their own self-interest does not imply that their chosen definition is correct.

Sure it's parochial.

To those with parochial minds. Should those of us with alternative partnerships (I am transgendered, with a female partner) be forced to accede to the chosen definition of 'parochial' voters?

While you're at it, you might also look up the definition of parochial: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=parochial i.e.:

"Narrowly restricted in scope or outlook; provincial: parochial attitudes"

So what you are proposing is that here, in the land of the free and the home of the brave, in the democracy that stands as a shining beacon to all fledgling democracies everywhere, we, members of the GLBT community, silence ourselves so that the narrow-minded among us feel comfortable?

How does demanding an equal right to marry a partner of the same sex "offend" someone not inclined to to do so? What harm befalls them? Are they physically injured? Forced to pay a tax? Confined?

Oh, I get it, it's about their feelings .

Well, what about the feelings of those of us who feel love and respect for our partner? Do we not count? Are we not Americans? What if I were a 20 year veteran, with two combat tours? Would I still be inelegible to avail myself of the same social recognition as those 'parochial' individuals who have never served a day in uniform defending this 'free' country?

Or are their feelings more important than mine?

Take your apologetic claptrap and run. Run far, far away. For, just as with the civil rights movement, just as with every fundamental human right that has ever been torn from the the grasp of the 'parochial' rulers of the disenfranchised minority, there will come a time when enough is enough and freedom will be won, at the point of a sword, if necessary.

Such are the beginings of this 'noble' democracy we call America.

I don't care if those opposed to same-sex marriage speak their minds; I care when they assert some non-existent right to reserve the privilege of a ceremony only to those they deem 'entitled'.

That is harm. That is real harm, not some imaginary blow to my feelings .

I say, I welcome the backlash. Let it come.

[Atlant]

20. Helping to clarify who "you" is here...

> The more gays go out and "challenge" the law, the more militant you
> appear. The more militant you appear, the more press coverage you
> will get.

While I realize that the pronoun "you" in the second sentence that
I've quoted doesn't exactly have the same semantic meaning as the
collective noun "gays" in the first sentence, I thought I'd take
this moment to point out, for the record, that I am a happily
married heterosexual.

I just value human rights for everyone, a concept my party, of
late, has not seemed all that comfortable with.

So if you're keeping score, it isn't just "gays" celebrating
this particular decision. And I really don't care that this
action by the City of San Francisco will make it that much
harder for our oh-so-brave Democratic candidates to finesse
the public's perception of where they stand on this issue.
Once in a while, it's nice to simply see the right thing being
done.

As it was done here.

Atlant

[La Lioness Priyanka]

23. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF

I'd be VERY happy to trade the 2-5% of voting gays for 20-25% of middle America who DO NOT WANT homosexual marriage!!!!!!

[Atlant]

29. Oh, I see. You were quoting #6.

Sorry, I got lost there for a moment.

Atlant

[Calico4000]

25. If this is the position of Clark people

Then I am glad he dropped out. This is no time for dems to be running scared.

[ronnykmarshall]

31. Not THIS Clark supporter.

[Missy Vixen]

47. When do you suggest would be a "good" time?

>Do you bay folks not REALIZE that this is HELPING Republicans??????? God dammit, can't you folks just cool it on the parades and marches until AFTER the election??????<

Gosh, I heard the same thing on Bernie Ward's program last night, and he blasted the caller using the same rhetoric.

If gays and lesbians in the Democratic party aren't going to get this most important of issues addressed, what makes us any different than Republicans?

Gosh. Wait a little while. Doesn't matter if you have NONE of the rights accorded any heterosexual mouthbreather who can plunk down $50 for a wedding license, and get an "annulment" less than two days later. Doesn't matter if you're not treated as a human. Better wait. The Republican boogeyman is right around the corner again. After the election, they'll be ignored for ANOTHER FOUR YEARS!

Nope. I'm standing with those who are just looking for the dignity of having their life partner legally recognized as such.

Julie

[ronnykmarshall]

49. Who you talkin' about??

<<Wait a little while. Doesn't matter if you have NONE of the rights accorded any heterosexual mouthbreather who can plunk down $50 for a wedding license, and get an "annulment" less than two days later.>>

Couldn't be some overexposed, overpaid, untalented, empty headed teen pop idol?

[leQ]

53. who let the dogs out?

n/t

[foreigncorrespondent]

64. Taeger, where the hell do you...

...get off telling us to take a seat on the back of the bus and shut up?

What if Rosa Parks decided not to take a stand and refuse to sit on the back of the bus? What is MLK decided not to be the civil rights leader he was? Where would this have left the black community?

I most certainly won't be cooling my effort to legally marry the woman I love. And if I was able to get on a plane right this moment I would fly back "home" to San Francisco (yes SF became my home when I lived with Sapphocrat for 15 months before YOUR countries immigration authorities misquoted their own laws and kicked me out) and head into the city to marry her.

How dare you!

[ronnykmarshall]

68. Isn't it funny

Taeger hasn't had the GUTS to come back and try and defend his/her words?

[foreigncorrespondent]

74. That is what he usually does.

And if he doesn't do that, then he gives a half hearted attempt at an apology.

[Politicub]

70. Whoa!

Perhaps these people getting hitched is too uppity for your tastes.

Oops - Your bigotry showing!

[Laughing Mirror]

7. The two have been a couple for 51 years

And they finally get that marriage license. They finally get to tie the knot.

[BiggJawn]

11. A lot longer than I will ever have a chance to be married...

Gay couple stays together 51 years, I can't even make it to 10 years.

But I'm allowed to marry and they're not.

Does. Not. Compute.

Many more happy years to the newlyweds!

[ronnykmarshall]

12. I've met them.

They are two of the nicest people you could ever meet. They sort of "royalty" in SF.

[David__77]

15. I'm considering going to SF to get married.

My spouse and I are already married in our eyes and the eyes of our friends and families. We will have to discuss this tonight.

[DrWeird]

18. Do it.

Go saturday.

[ronnykmarshall]

44. So many anniversary's!

I want to go this weekend too. But Mr. "RKM" has to work so we can't. My mom wants us to wait so she and my step-pop can go. (Step-pop missed our Commitment Ceremony in Vegas 2001)

So this will just add to the list of anniversary's:

1. Day we met - March 2000

2. City of West Hollywood Domestic Partner registration - Sept 2000

3. Commitment Ceremony - Sept 22, 2001

4. State of California DP - Dec 2001.

and now the SF marriage (or Mass .... gotta love P-town!)

So many dates, so many gifts!

[DrWeird]

16. They should do this nationwide on Valentine's day.

For those of you who don't know, St. Valentine was a catholic priest who was martyred for performing illegal weddings for soldiers. The church had outlawed soldiers getting married. It ruins the sanctity of marriage you know.

[Calico4000]

24. This will happen in Houston tomorrow...

or I should say will be attempted.

[DU GrovelBot]

30. ## Support Democratic Underground! ##

RUN C:\GROVELBOT.EXE
 
This week is our first quarter 2004 fund drive.
Please take a moment to donate to DU. Thank you
for your support.
 
- An automated message from the DU GrovelBot

Click here to donate.

[ronnykmarshall]

32. Hey Grovel, baby.

You got a nice ass! :silly:

[adamblast]

36. Am I allowed to say...

...that a certain poster whose name begins with a *T* is a disgusting homophobe who should be ashamed of himself?

You may not believe that gay rights are an important enough issue to be worth fighting, but that's simply a reflection on *YOU*.

[ronnykmarshall]

45. Go ON!

:toast: to Adam!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

57. i say you are

it especially irks me when people refuse to recognize their own prejudice and pretend its someone elses issue

ex: I dont like black people so i blame their names/clothes/lingo etc. instead of acknowledging that i am a fucking racist

[onehandle]

38. Hanging's too good for them!

Clearly these little old ladies are a threat to the American Family.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

40. Congratulations...

to the happy couple! :) :toast:

Any of our gay or lesbian DUers who have an urge to head to my lovely town to get hitched have a standing invitation for a free cable car ride and tea at the Hagiwara Tea Garden. :hi:

[ronnykmarshall]

46. We might take you up on that!

I'm loving this soooooo much! A chance to have a second wedding in my old "hometown".

[Hell Hath No Fury]

50. You know where to find me!!

Isn't San Francisco the coolest? :) But then YOU know that, having lived here. :hi: When people chastise me for gushing about my hometown, it's things like this I point to as to why I love it so much. I'm just busting my buttons today.

When you finally make it "home", know that the Bay Area delegation knows how to show DUers a good time. :)

[ronnykmarshall]

55. You're gonna make cry!

I love LA, love my home and my 'hood. But as corny as it sounds, my heart will always be in San Francisco!

SING IT, TONY!!!

[Hell Hath No Fury]

60. Ya know how big a freak I am?

I cry like a baby when someone sings "San Francisco"! When the cast of Beach Blanket Babylon sang it before the World Series game a week after the '89 earthquake, I was a blubbering idiot.

:cry:

[ronnykmarshall]

61. Me too!

At the Castro theater, they always play it (on that pipe organ) before the show starts.

I really felt like the San Franciscan the first time I sang it!

[Hell Hath No Fury]

62. Movie night at the Castro!

I have spent some of the most fun nights EVER at that theatre!

I've been to two John Water's Christmases (one featured a cha-cha- heels contest!) and an evening with Carole Lynnley recreating parts of her "Poseidon Adventure" performance. You know you're in SF when a drag queen dressed like Divine leans over and asks you if her boobs look okay. :)

They still fire up that Wurlitzer -- it's just not the movies with out it!

[EV1Ltimm]

48. Right on!

Here's to the happy couple!

:toast:

[ronnykmarshall]

59. THIS is what America FEARS!!!!

[Pikku]

63. Congratulations to all SF newlyweds!

:party:

[foreigncorrespondent]

65. ronny...

...that picture made me cry! I am so happy for these two women!

[ronnykmarshall]

67. Me too!

I love those ladies! I met them once in SF and they are my heros!

[Sapphocrat]

71. fc...

Do you recognize them? You haven't met them, but in my eyes, they are our patron saints. :)

[Big_Mike]

73. I have to say

That anyone who can latch on to someone and have it last so long definitely deserves respect from all, be they straight, gay, or whatever.

Personally, I view this as an item of fairness. Just because I can get drunk, go marry someone, and decide that I want out one year later, why should I have this capability and someone who happens to love another of the same sex cannot?

AFAIK, the whole "Separate but equal" fell out of favor fifty or so years ago. The Civil Union concept looks fine, and maybe it allows some of the religious types to nod their heads in allowance, but at bottom the concept reeks like four day old fish.

This comes down to why I served in the military for most of my adult life. To allow personal freedom to ALL Americans, not just those with the correct beliefs. Whom anyone else chooses to sleep with is none of my concern, so long as both are consenting adults. I don't go for guys, but if someone is happy with someone else of the same gender, good luck and Godspeed to them!

[Missy Vixen]

76. I don't fear it

I welcome it.

The expressions on the faces of those in the room tell the story -- they don't fear it, either. GLBT marriages don't threaten the "sanctity" of my marriage. I'd like to think that the opportunity for true love, and the legal recognition of a lifetime commitment, enhances marriage. Period.

This photograph was the nicest thing I saw today! Congratulations, ladies, we hope that you'll have many more happy years together.

Julie

[kayell]

79. Now that is true romance!

I teared up just looking at them. These 2 have been together through some tough times. I remember reading about them back in the 80s when I was first coming to terms with my sexuality. They were role models for me. I am so proud of the SF mayor and govt. for standing up for their rights to formalize their union.

Del Martin and Phyllis Lyons, as a young couple.

[adamblast]

72. 15 married couples and counting...

15 GAY COUPLES WED IN SAN FRANCISCO

365Gay.com Newscenter
San Francisco Bureau
Updated: February 12, 2004 6:22 p.m. ET

(San Francisco, California) 15 same-sex couples were married Thursday in ceremonies at San Francisco City Hall.

The weddings were coordinated by Mayor Gavin Newsom and top city officials and were intended to force the state to act on legalizing gay marriage.

Tuesday, Newsom instructed the county clerk's office to make the necessary arrangements to begin issuing the licenses. Newsom said he wanted to preside over the first wedding next week. (story)

When two conservative groups announced earlier today they would seek an injunction to prevent the mayor from issuing licenses (story) Newsom threw down the gauntlet and immediately arranged this afternoon's weddings.

http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/02/021204sfMarriage.htm

Here's hoping it's hundreds by this time next week!!!

Valentine's Day field trip, anybody???
:D

[adamblast]

75. YEEHAW!! 1st day tally: 87 weddings, 95 add'l licenses

San Francisco Officials Marry Gay Couples
By LISA LEFF, Associated Press Writer

SAN FRANCISCO - In an open challenge to California law, city authorities performed scores of same-sex weddings Thursday and issued a stack of marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples.

Applause filled the marble passages under City Hall's ornate gold dome as jubilant same-sex couples breezed through brief ceremonies, promising to be "spouse for life" to partners some had loved without marriage for decades.

"Today a barrier to true justice has been removed," said Gavin Newsom, newly elected mayor of the city considered the capital of gay America.

Full story:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20040213/ap_on_re_us/gay_marriage_calif_6

Go, SF!!! You rock!!!

I'm proud to be a Californian for the first time in ages!!

Take that, Massachussetts joint seesion! Take that, John Kerry!