Dozens of gay couples get married in
California
By LISA LEFF, Associated Press Writer
22 minutes ago
SAN FRANCISCO - Dozens of gay couples were married
Monday after a historic ruling making California the second state to allow
same-sex nuptials went into effect. At least five county clerks around the
state extended their hours to issue marriage licenses, and many same-sex
couples got married on the spot.
"These are not folks who just met each other last week and said,
`Let's get married.' These are folks who have been together in some
cases for decades," said Kate Kendell, executive director of the
National Center for Lesbian Rights. "They are married in their hearts
and minds, but they have never been able to have that experience of
community and common humanity."
The really big rush to the altar in the nation's most populous state
was not expected to take place until Tuesday, which is when most
counties planned to start issuing marriage licenses to gay couples.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of couples from around the country are
expected to seize the opportunity to make their unions official in the
eyes of the law.
Local officials are now required to issue licenses that have the
words "Party A" and "Party B" where "bride" and "groom" used to be.
In San Francisco, Mayor Gavin Newsom, who helped launch the series
of lawsuits that led the court to strike down California's
one-man-one-woman marriage laws, presided at the wedding of lesbian
rights activists Del Martin, 87, and Phyllis Lyon, 84.
Well-wishers cheered when they emerged outside Newsom's office after the
ceremony.
Dozens of couples gathered outside the clerks offices in Alameda, Sonoma and
Yolo counties, where hours were extended to accommodate gay couples who wanted
to be among the first to marry.
Derek Norman, 23 and Robert Blaudow, 39, from Memphis, were in the Bay Area for
a conference and decided to get married at the Alameda County clerk's office.
"We might wait a long time in Tennessee, so this is our chance," Blaudow said.
First in line to pick up a marriage license in Sonoma was Melanie Phoenix, 47,
and Terry Robinson, 48, of Santa Rosa. They have been together for almost 26
years and plan to be wed in August.
"It's an historic occasion," Phoenix said. "I never believed it was really
possible until Gavin Newsom took the first step in 2004."
A throng of well-wishers and news media surrounded a lesbian couple
as they were married in a Jewish ceremony in front of the Beverly Hills
courthouse.
The ceremony was broadcast live on three newscasts in Los Angeles.
The couple wept and pressed their foreheads together, and onlookers whooped as
the marriage became valid.
