Same-Sex Couples Marry in San Francisco

In Massachusetts, they're debating whether to ban same-sex marriage in the state's constitution. In San Francisco, gays getting marriage licenses and getting married, thanks to the mayor. So many couples tried to take advantage of the chance that many had to be turned away and asked to return the next day - but 95 did get licenses and 87 took their vows right there.

The Idaho State Journal explains:

San Francisco's newly elected mayor, Gavin Newsom, directed the county clerk to accept applications from gay and lesbian partners for the first time Thursday _ an act of political and legal defiance aimed at challenging California's ban on same-sex marriages. ... "Even people who are anti-gay marriage might shift their thinking now and realize it's most harmful to take something away when someone already has it," said Virginia Garcia, 40, after wedding Sheila Sernovitz, 50, her partner of 14 years.

San Francisco officials tried to keep the first marriage - between longtime lesbian activists Phyllis Lyon, 79, and Del Martin, 83 - confidential so they could complete it before any court intervention. The pair, who will celebrate 51 years together on Valentine's Day, were wed by San Francisco Assessor Mabel Teng at 11:10 a.m. in a closed-door ceremony. The secrecy that surrounded the Lyon-Martin wedding ended up being unnecessary since California courts were closed in observance of Lincoln's Birthday. It also meant that many couples started their days with no idea they would wed by evening.

It's strange to think that a couple which has been together for 51 years are somehow a "threat" because they want their relationship to be recognized as a marriage. It does seem likely that a court may invalidate the marriages, but it's also true that taking away the licenses may prove a bit more difficult than keeping them out of the hands of gays in the first place. I hope that Lyon and Martin both live long enough to see legal and legislative victory.

Read More:

• Ethics of Gay Marriage
• Religious Right
• Evangelical Christianity & Homosexuality