BBC Photo Essay: Gays rush to wed in San Francisco

BBC On-Line ^ | Saturday, 14 February, 2004 | staff writers

[yankeedame]

Last Updated: Saturday, 14 February, 2004, 07:35 GMT

Gays rush to wed in San Francisco

It was a day of celebration for gay couples

Hundreds of gay couples have been racing to get married in San Francisco after the city's mayor lifted a state ban on same-sex marriage.

Mayor Gavin Newsom took the decision on the grounds that the ban was a form of discrimination.

San Francisco's new Mayor, Gavin Newsom, decided earlier this week to lift the ban on single-sex marriages in the city.

The move has immediately been denounced by anti-gay-groups, who are vowing to fight it in the courts.

No US state allows same-sex marriage, however, San Francisco has long been a pioneer in gay rights legislation.

"We've waited 13 years for this," Wendy Higgins-Goodell

The mayor's decision puts officials centre stage in an intensifying national debate over same-sex marriage, the BBC's David Willis in California says.

President Bush is among those opposed to it, and it is thought he may soon endorse a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, our correspondent adds.

Gay Valentine

They said they would keep marrying
gays and lesbians all over the Valentine's Day weekend.

News of the mayor's decision on Thursday to issue marriage licences to gay couples prompted hundreds to converge on city hall.

The first in the line were Phyllis Lyon, 79, and Del Martin, 83, who celebrate 51 years together on Valentine's Day.

They became the first same-sex couple in America to wed legally.

The first couple to tie the knot were long-time lesbian activists Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin.
They had been together for 51 years on Valentine's Day.

"Some 298 marriage certificates have been issued (on Friday) and 98 (on Thursday)," the mayor's spokesman, Francisco Castillo, was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

Officials estimated that hundreds of licences were issued as couples streamed into the city hall.

Mr Castillo said that the city would keep marrying gays and lesbians over the Valentine's weekend and would be "celebrating weddings until Tuesday at least".

Couples celebrated the nationally unprecedented weddings at a reception in the city hall.

The mayor's decision was hailed by gay couples around America, many of whom rushed to San Francisco.

"We found out from our friends (on Thursday) afternoon and flew up from Los Angeles last night as soon as we could," Wendy Higgins-Goodell was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

"We've waited 13 years for this," added Ms Higgins-Goodell, as she was holding the daughter her partner Tristan gave birth to last year via artificial insemination.

The weddings went ahead after San Francisco Superior Court Judge James Warren denied injunctions sought by conservative groups to block same-sex unions.

The weddings in San Francisco have encouraged gay couples elsewhere in the US to demand the right to marry.

The groups were told to refile their lawsuits on Tuesday, as the judge said did not give a required 24-hour notice to the San Francisco attorney's office.

But not everyone is in favour of single-sex marriages. A number of legal challenges are expected.

[Piquaboy]

Thank You San Francisco for making me exremely ill. A 49 sq. mile full of perverts should drop off into the Pacific.

[cripplecreek]

Frankly I'm most interested in finding out where is the outrage. I'm talking about the people who screamed the loudest that judge Moore had violated the law in Alabama dont seem to mind the law being groken here.

In simplest terms this is anarchy. they want strict enforcement of laws they like and overlook the laws they dont.

[rickmichaels]

Imagine these two stark naked and going at it like rabbits.

HA HA HA!!! I JUST MADE YOU TOSS YOUR COOKIES!!!

[whereasandsoforth]

No cookie toss here. I'm into granny-on-granny action!

(sick-sick-sick)

[DaBroasta]

I never understood how someone who wasn't coerced or seduced into this unhealthy lifestyle as an adolescent could end-up a homosexual--that is until I saw this picture. It's pretty obvious that neither has seen a penis since the automobile replaced the horse and buggy.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Ready for the reintroduction of the Auto da Fe'? Nah! that would require spiritual strength.

[cajun-jack]

go stand in the corner till you learn to behave yourself!!!!

[Fitzcarraldo]

When will the California Judiciary order the confiscation of Bibles containing expressions of what God thinks of homosexuals? What crazy arguments will they use to uphold such an order? It can't be far off..

[Rome2000]

[Paul Atreides]

From the photos I have seen, if gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "bumping uglies."

[JimRed]

The good news is that so many undesirables will leave us alone and migrate to SF and Massachusetts.

[Tricorn]

"I'm talking about the people who screamed the loudest that judge Moore had violated the law in Alabama dont seem to mind the law being broken here."

Conservative pundits are only outraged at other conservatives these days. It has become their badge of honor. They use it in the promos to their radio shows. "See what an independent thinker I am?" "Aren't I something?" "Have you bought my new book yet?"

Judges writing laws and selectively enforcing/ignoring others? Not a problem -- unless it promotes conservative values. Then it's "Rule of law, boys. Rule of law. (Have I mentioned my new book?)"

[LibKill]

"Gay Marriage" is a corruption of the English Language.

Call it 'Gay Partnership', 'Civil Union', or plain old 'Buggery'.

Don't call it marriage.

BTW, I didn't mean YOU, I meant the news flops.

[TRY ONE]

"Imagine these two stark naked and going at it like rabbits.

HA HA HA!!! I JUST MADE YOU TOSS YOUR COOKIES!!!"


Me heard that one of them is a spokesperson for Snap-on-Tools. Just can't figure out which one.....

[devane617]

OHHH Arnold !!! This is in your state I believe. As the Gov you need to put a stop to these law breakers now.

[Paul Atreides]

Me heard that one of them is a spokesperson for Snap-on-Tools.

No. One is the spokesperson for Strap-On Tools.

[Paul Atreides]

Are you kidding? They'll just return to their home states and demand that their "marriages" be recognized. Or, they will begin flaunting their marriages in front of everyone, especially the kiddies.

[Dog Anchor]

I think this may all be a good thing. The election of George Bush has pushed this Nation to the tipping point regarding these issues. Indeed, it is anarchy vs. the rule of law and one or the other is going to come out on top.

Sorry to be so cynical. Be thankful for your fine men and women in uniform and support your local national guard.

[Conservative Iowan]

"They became the first same-sex couple in America to wed legally."

Um, one small problem with this. These "weddings" are not legal. Where's Arnold on this?