San Francisco Weds 2,500 Gay Couples, Rulings Seen

Reuters ^ | 2-17-04 | Spencer Swartz

[Indy Pendance]

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Conservative family groups asked two courts on Tuesday to halt a flood of City Hall weddings between same-sex couples that have made San Francisco "Ground Zero" for the controversial gay marriage movement.

The city's assessor-record's office said that about 2,500 gay and lesbian couples have been married since Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered city officials to defy state law and grant same-sex marriage licenses last Thursday.

The bulk of those licenses came over the Valentine's Day weekend when City Hall remained open so that more couples could exchange wedding vows.

Many city workers volunteered without pay and scores of others helped to meet the demand for same-sex marriages licenses from couples who flew in from across the nation and even Europe to form lines several blocks long and patiently wait their turn to say "I do."

The pace slowed on Tuesday as City workers attended to other duties but officials said same sex weddings with couples pledging to be "spouses for life" would continue until the courts ruled otherwise.

Newsom decided to lift the ban on same-sex marriages on the grounds that homosexuals have the right to wed under the state's equal protection clause.

But the move defied a state law, known as Proposition 22 and approved in 2000 by California voters, that restricted marriage only to heterosexual couples. The measure passed with support from about 60 percent of those who voted on the initiative.

California Superior Court Judge James Warren refused to grant the Alliance Defense Fund a temporary restraining order last week to stop the weddings but scheduled a new hearing on the issue for Tuesday afternoon. In addition, another judge will hear a petition brought by a different group on Tuesday.

The anti-gay marriage groups are seeking to have a court invalidate the marriages that have already taken place.

Alliance Defense Fund attorney Robert Tyler says San Francisco violated state law and created "municipal anarchy" by granting same-sex marriage licenses.

Tyler added San Francisco could have challenged Proposition 22 by first filing a lawsuit rather than moving on its own without any court action.

Same-sex marriage has become a hot-button issue in this election year, with opponents like President Bush saying it would destroy the institution of marriage.

No state, including California, allows gay marriage although Massachusetts is currently debating whether to overturn a landmark state supreme court ruling allowing such unions.

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

San Francisco Weds 2,500 Gay Couples

[Thinkin' Gal]

Conservative family groups asked two courts on Tuesday to halt a flood of City Hall weddings between same-sex couples that have made San Francisco "Ground Zero" for the controversial gay marriage movement.

[Frankss]

This seems like some sort of "back door" marriage license

[cinnathepoet]

I still think it would be great for a bunch of conservatives to dress funny, take their pets or spare chairs or grandmothers and show up in line demanding licenses too. How would they be turned away? As my daughter says, she'd love to collect life insurance the day her computer-chair, her partner in life, passes away.

[tbpiper]

Sounds likes it's about time for a litte tectonic stress relief.

[Chewbacca]

The groom better have had the bride sign a prenup.

[Canadian Outrage]

No doubt this mayor is a RAT!! It would appear he is also a publicity seeker. I see this as a political stunt rather than anything of substance. He has given his "approval for a lot of useless paperwork!!

[randog]

If I worked for the city of San Fran I'd get a marriage license and marry about 1000 homeless women (hey, if gay marriage is OK then what's wrong with polygamy? Equal protection under the law, right?), then demand benefits from my employer (the city) for my entire family.

[GOP_1900AD]

Gore was here recently.

[jdontom]

Judge just tells SF to stop issueing marriage license's....

[BikerNYC]

Fox News is reporting that the 2nd judge has delayed action, as the first judge did, but no details yet on the website.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

And, from the city that pays for sex change operations for its employees, this is a surprise?

I predict that SF will be thre first city in the USA to allow one to marry their clone.

[livius]

I like the idea of the spare chairs. I have several in my garage I'd like to get rid of. Do you think San Franciscans might be interested, once they've run through all the other human and even animate possibilities? Heck, as you say, why not?

[BurbankKarl]

the second judge tossed the court order due to a typo....

but the marriage flow has slowed to a trickle....

[Kerberos]

"that have made San Francisco "Ground Zero" for the controversial gay marriage movement."

Would one expect ground zero to be anywhere else? Makes perfect sense to me.

[ScottLA37]

Allowing gay marriage will open up Pandora's box. We need to freep the line at the courthouse with people who want to mary their pets, mothers, sisters, horses, and cars. This will show the media what will happen if we allow the courts to take this fork in the road.

[Broker]

Why stop at this.

Take your dog downtown to city hall and get married. Be committed, get hitched to your pooch. You have just as much right as anybody to tag a mate for life. Just think, if your hound has a good inheritance as you can reload every 12.5 years

[NutCrackerBoy]

The mayor called the state Attorney General before issuing any of the faux licenses. The AG should have commanded "under no circumstances proceed with this." It is outrageous that California is allowing it to continue.

[Paleo Conservative]

And, from the city that pays for sex change operations for its employees, this is a surprise?

If one of the spouses in a "gay marriage" had a sex change, would that be grounds for a divorce?