FIRST GAY WEDDING IN US (This is outrageous!)

sky news ^ | Last Updated: 09:59 UK, Friday February 13, 2004

[gdyniawitawa]

The US city of San Francisco has become the first civil authority in the United States to officially marry gay couples in open defiance of laws banning the practice.

The city, under the orders of new liberal Mayor Gavin Newsom, officially married at least 15 gay couples and issued marriage licences to around a dozen others.

The landmark move in California came as lawmakers in Massachusetts struggled to thwart a court ruling legalising same-sex marriages in the eastern US state.

A pair of elderly lesbians became the first couple to have their same-sex union officially blessed in San Francisco, challenging a state law that bars same-sex marriages.

A city official officiated at the wedding of Del Martin, 83, and 79-year-old Phyllis Lyon after Newsom ordered city staff to issue marriage licences to gay couples.

Instead of calling couples "bride" and "groom", the wedding licence application listed lesbian couples as "1st applicant" and "2nd applicant."

In Massachusetts, meanwhile, state legislators held a second day of heated debate, as they sought to adopt a constitutional amendment that would specifically restrict marriages to unions between one man and one woman.

The move was deemed necessary after the state Supreme Court ruled in November that same sex couples had the right to marry, and that preventing them doing so violated the state constitution

[Luis Gonzalez]

There are philosophical differences, and then there are outright violations of written law.

There are those who call for Bush's impeachment because in their words he's not guarding our borders. That would be a tough sell in light of the fact that the borders are guarded by the Border Patrol and other agencies, so the elevated level of rhetorical chest-beating actually works against them.

Then there is this, a clear (and willful) violation of State Law by an elected official.

Jail time it should be!

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Did the legislature change the law or are the courts breeching the powers of the judicial branch again?"

Something much simpler...a Mayor gave the law the finger.

[Qwinn]

"Could be a tough sell around here. Folks seem to want to pick and choose which civil servant they excoriate for the same kinds of things."

Riiight. My prediction? This mayor will NOT get the Roy Moore treatment. He won't be arrested or fired. He'll be given a free pass to do what was in many ways a far clearer violation of law than what Moore did.

And that's what angers me about those who called for Moore's head - they won't be even 1/1000th as emotional in calling for this mayor's head - and they'll be mouthing about what hypocrites conservatives are the whole time. GRRRRR.

Qwinn

[Spiff]

Those marriages are not recognized by state law and are therefore not valid.

You must have missed this from the article:

The US city of San Francisco has become the first civil authority in the United States to officially marry gay couples in open defiance of laws banning the practice. The city, under the orders of new liberal Mayor Gavin Newsom, officially married at least 15 gay couples and issued marriage licences to around a dozen others.

[Cowboy Bob]

If States can pass a law allowing Gay marriage, can they also pass a law allowing a Hunting Season?

[gathersnomoss]

Wow, do they smell some rotten fish or someting?

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

Are the two old ladies conjoined at the forehead?

The other picture made me spew my coffee.

[b9]

Nice try, newbie.

[Protagoras]

Then there is this, a clear (and willful) violation of State Law by an elected official. Jail time it should be!

You mistake who I'm talking about. The judge in the ten commandments case is as widely applauded as the SF mayor is excoriated.

[Protagoras]

They both are wrong.

[mountaineer]

Instead of calling couples "bride" and "groom", the wedding licence application listed lesbian couples as "1st applicant" and "2nd applicant."

*sigh* It brings to mind that wondrous day nearly eight years ago, when Mr. M and I were joined in holy matrimony, and the pastor said, "You may now kiss the 2nd applicant."

To this day, my husband occasionally refers to me to other people as his second applicant. What a hopeless romantic! Excuse me, I seem to have something in my eye. *sniff*

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

If I was stuck for life with a second applicant that looked like that, I would be crying too.

[Seeking the truth]

Roberta Achtenberg - Remember her?

She worked for the Clinton Administration.

She used to kiss her "female lover" in parades in SF while driving in a convertible.

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” (Edmund Burke).

[Ol' Sparky]

If Roy Moore can be removed for not following the law, this reneged mayor should lose his job for knowingly violating the law. "Civil disobedience" doesn't mean you don't have to pay the price when you violate the law.

[mhking]

The city, under the orders of new liberal Mayor Gavin Newsom, officially married at least 15 gay couples and issued marriage licences to around a dozen others.

The good mayor can "call" it whatever he wants -- that doesn't make it legal. Period.

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[Andiceman]

Well, if they're going to go with the "two consenting adults" argument, I guess they'll have to issue marriage licenses to incestuous couples. Father & adult daughter want to get hitched? No problem! Twin gay brothers--no problem! Brother & sister want to "keep it in the family"? No problem? Mother & son--make being "Mama's special boy" an official union.

Why not? If both parties are consenting adults, and traditional morality doesn't apply anymore, they shouldn't have a problem with it.

[heleny]

to issue marriage licenses to incestuous couples. Father & adult daughter want to get hitched?

They can avoid estate taxes this way, since giving to the surviving spouse has an unlimited exemption.

[radiohead]

Is this lad conservative?

LOL! I realize you are writing from across the pond and may be unfamiliar w/the big guy, but I just had to laugh.

[Qwinn]

They are both wrong? Perhaps. Doesn't matter. Moore has gotten the political equivalent of the electric chair and his monument carted off, and this Mayor will get invited to all the cool parties and his marriages will be recognized.

You're the one who pointed out the hypocrisy in the Moore camp. I'm pointing out the hypocrisy of the reality, and the fact that for whatever the cultural conservatives -want-, the reality is that they will be the ones who will get massively screwed by hypocrites, just as they have been for the last thirty years, and people will contine to point the hypocrisy finger at THEM, adding insult to the injury. I ask you, where does the real hypocrisy lay?

Qwinn

[Protagoras]

You're the one who pointed out the hypocrisy in the Moore camp.

Nah, I pointed out inconsistency, probably unintentional.

You can put your boxing gloves away.