First California gay couples wed

Wolfman1982

people are hard to please
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May 26, 2005
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Dozens of homosexual couples have married in California shortly after the US state was permitted to grant them marriage licences for the first time.

Ceremonies were held in at least five counties after a Supreme Court ruling overturning a ban on same-sex marriages took effect at 1701 (0001 GMT).

One of the first couples to exchange vows was veteran gay-rights campaigner Del Martin, 87, and Phyllis Lyon, 83.

Voters will be asked in a referendum in November if the ban should be restored.

California is the second state after Massachusetts to legalise same-sex marriages.

'Extraordinary and humbling gift'

San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom, who has been a prominent advocate of same-sex marriage, officiated at the wedding in City Hall of Ms Martin and Ms Lyon, who earlier received their licence.

It was Mr Newsom's 2004 decision to issue marriage licences to gay couples - including Ms Lyon and Ms Martin - which began the long drawn-out political and legal battle that led eventually to the California Supreme Court's ruling last month.

"We are very happy and we're very grateful," Ms Lyon said to a small crowd that cheered and threw rose petals at them after the ceremony.

"When we first got together we weren't really thinking about getting married."

Mr Newsom said officiating at the wedding had been an "extraordinary and humbling gift".

In Los Angeles, Robin Tyler and Diane Olson, who were plaintiffs in the lawsuit that led to the Supreme Court ruling, were married in a Jewish ceremony in front of Beverly Hills courthouse minutes after receiving their licence.

The ceremony was broadcast live on three news channels in the city.

Robin Tyler and Diane Olson marry

About 20 protesters gathered nearby carrying banners with slogans that included: "Homo Sex is Sin!"

A referendum in 2000 approved a law specifying that marriage in California could only be between a man and a woman. The 2004 marriage ceremonies were a direct challenge to this law, and were ruled illegal by judges.

But civil rights campaigners appealed against the ruling, and their arguments were accepted by the San Francisco Superior Court.

And although the lower court's ruling was overturned by the California Court of Appeal in 2006, this ruling was itself reversed last month by the state's Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, state legislators approved a law allowing same-sex marriages, but it was vetoed by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said that the courts should decide the issue.

'Tight election'

Opponents of same-sex unions have now gathered enough signatures to put another law outlawing gay marriage before California voters in a referendum scheduled for this November.

But large numbers of gay couples - from across the US - are expected to get married in California before that time, partly in the hope that voters will be less inclined to vote for the law if it would mean splitting up married couples.

"It's going to be a very tight election come November," said Jeff Kors, executive director of the gay rights group Equality California.

"The more people see their friends and family get married, the more they will be comfortable with the idea."

Public opinion in California appears to be more favourable to gay marriage than was the case when the law banning it was passed in 2000.

A recent poll indicated that 52% of Californians supported same-sex marriages, with 41% opposed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7457968.stm
 
November will be interesting. My guess is the ban is restored, 54% to 46% with huge voter turnout due to the presidential election.

(Ca will vote Obama, relect their democrats to the house and senate, but ban gay marriage).

Just a prediction.
 
November will be interesting. My guess is the ban is restored, 54% to 46% with huge voter turnout due to the presidential election.

(Ca will vote Obama, relect their democrats to the house and senate, but ban gay marriage).

Just a prediction.

Yeah, Obama won´t be great to the GLBT community , he will be a fucking asshole if he becomes the president . Sorry the whole issue about equal rights to the GLBT area in USA, is just making me sad. Gay men, Gay women, are just as human as any one else. And they need to get married too. And I wish they got married here, but it is "only" registered partnership, but they do get the same benefits. So that is an okay thing.
 
Sadly, I agree with you, Kbate. Give us an inch, then they take a mile. I'm still really happy that some couples have gotten to marry, though. If I thought it would last, I'd marry my gf.
 
I predict in twenty years, gay marriage will just be marriage. I believe it will take us that long to get there, though.
 
Twenty years? I really doubt it'll take that long. It looks like things are getting primed for it now.
 
I rather think it will stay up barely, as far as Obama I don't know, I am staying out of the whole political crap.

Though I am curious, why are the two guys Ms, that's always been a single gal title. :confused:
 
Yeah, Obama won´t be great to the GLBT community , he will be a fucking asshole if he becomes the president . Sorry the whole issue about equal rights to the GLBT area in USA, is just making me sad. Gay men, Gay women, are just as human as any one else. And they need to get married too. And I wish they got married here, but it is "only" registered partnership, but they do get the same benefits. So that is an okay thing.

I agree. it is sad. We are human, and should be treated as such. it's a shame love is only recognized when it's hetero.

Have a great day/night everyone!
:rose:
 
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