Gay marriages begin
After 50 years together, Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin were married in San Francisco City Hall shortly after 5 p.m. on June 16th.San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom officiated the ceremony in his office, the man who started the battle for gay marriage when he allowed the county clerk to issue such licenses to same-gender couples in 2004.
The elder couple was also the first to be married in 2004. Today, Lyon, 83, and Martin, 87, were one of dozens of couples who were married.
There were five counties around the state that allowed gay couples to marry after 5 p.m. today, which was the minute gay marriages became legal in California.
Oakland Mayor Ronald Dellums officiated marriages after 5 p.m. today.
On Tuesday, June 17th, all California counties will be offering marriage licenses to gay couples. Ken Yeager, Santa Clara County Supervisor, plans to officiate the first marriages in that county at 9 a.m. Dozens of couples are signed-up to get their licenses.
Even if California voters approved a ban on gay marriage in November, these marriages would remain legal. But current public polls show Californians support marriage equality.
Submitted by Editor on Mon, 06/16/2008 - 10:27pm.
