CA: Thanks to a semicolon, gays and lesbians keep marrying in San Francisco

AP via San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Feb. 17, 2004 | DAVID KRAVETS and LISA LEFF

[calcowgirl]

SAN FRANCISCO - Two judges delayed taking any action Tuesday to shut down San Francisco's same-sex wedding spree, citing court procedures as they temporarily rebuffed conservative groups enraged that the city's liberal politicians had already married almost 2,400 gay and lesbian couples.

[calcowgirl]

By David Kravets and Lisa Leff
ASSOCIATED PRESS
5:22 p.m. February 17, 2004

SAN FRANCISCO – A judge said Tuesday that San Francisco appears to be violating the law by issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but he declined to order an immediate halt to the weddings.

A conservative group had asked Judge James Warren to immediately stop the wedding spree and void the 2,400 same-sex marriages performed in the city since Thursday, but instead he issued a non-binding cease-and-desist order and told the city to return on March 29 and explain its legal position.

"We are extremely happy and gratified that a stay was not issued," City Attorney Dennis Herrerra said.

It wasn't immediately clear whether Mayor Gavin Newsom would abide by the non-binding court order, or tell city officials to continue issuing the marriage licenses.

Earlier Tuesday, another judge told another conservative group to return on Friday for another hearing on their challenge of the city's marriage policy.

[Mark]

A semicolon in EBONICS means "or"--- now continue please.

[kittymyrib]

There will be another great earthquake.

[Future Snake Eater]

All he had to do was strike out the semi-colon with his pen, interlineate the word "or", hand it to the attorneys to initial, and enter the order.

Hell, he wouldn't even have to do that. A semicolon replaces a comma and a coordinating conjuction (and, but, or, nor, for), so, therefore, "or" is already in there, just in a different, totally legitimate fashion. This judge is just helping the Cause O' The Queers.

[clamboat]

Think about what the media coverage would be if a Republican started issuing Concealed Carry permits in a state that didn't allow their issuance---saying that the 2nd Amendment trumped the lack of a Concealed Carry law.

And what would be wrong with that? Seems to be a pretty effective way to force the issue into court. I wish some mayor *would* start issuing CCW permits in defiance of state law, citing the US contitution as precedent.

So Newsom is doing exactly what you suggest - he is challenging the law in court, just in a roundabout way.

I also just don't understand what everyone else here seems to instictively know - How does letting two gay men, or two gay women, marry one another weaken the marriage I have with my wife or the institution of marriage as a whole? Will my wife stop loving me because a couple of guys in the city love each other? Are our vows somehow compromised by this?

As far as I can tell, I woke up this morning next to my wife, just as married as I was when I went to bed yesterday, no difference. People used to predict all sorts of doom-and-gloom if a black man were to marry a white woman (gasp!), and we seemed to have survived that ok. The only downside I see if that competition for good wedding sites might be even more intense now than before. Honestly, I don't see what all the fuss is about.

[heleny]

It wasn't immediately clear whether Mayor Gavin Newsom would abide by the non-binding court order, or tell city officials to continue issuing the marriage licenses.

Like, Duh. Since Newsom initially told the clerk to issue the marriage licenses, there's obviously no reason he would tell them to stop now.

One thing I'm not too clear on is that I heard in the news that SF planned to perform 30-40 marriages today. But, how many marriage licenses did they issue? Such licenses are usually good for 90 days.

[Future Snake Eater]

Has Arnold even said anything about this? He seems to be totally silent on the issue. He is being completely irresponsible by allowing these illegal acts to go forward.

[CGVet58]

"...depends on what the meaning of 'is', is..."

the (rotten, infested, hate-america-first...) apple dudn't fall far from da tree

[heleny]

A semicolon replaces a comma and a coordinating conjuction (and, but, or, nor, for)

You need an independent clause after a semicolon or after a comma+conjunction. Since the phrase wasn't an independent clause, it should be "or" without a comma.

[heleny]

Has Arnold even said anything about this?

Yes, he issued a statement. It was something along the lines of supporting traditional marriages and civil unions and saying that this matter is for the city attorney and attorney general to handle.

[dc-zoo]

San Francisco.. Legacy of a sh*thole.

[Future Snake Eater]

Ah, you're right, I just re-read it. OK, so now it's either a comma or a semicolon. Now I see why the judge stopped this legal heresy!

[Future Snake Eater]

So he passed the buck. Great.

[VxH]

>>A semicolon... unbelievable.

Habitat of the SemiGerbil?

[heleny]

So he passed the buck.

Roger Hedgecock also said on his show today that the SF district attorney probably won't do anything, so it's up to the state attorney general, Bill Lockyer. Roger said Lockyer is passing the problem to his civil division (instead of to the criminal division).

Basically, nobody in authority wants to touch this issue.

[dinok]

Arnold and GW had a phone conference call on this issue it went like this:

GW: You respond first
AS: No you first
GW: No you
AS: I cant do it GW, Maria vill kill me
GW: I can't either Arnold...Karl Rove will ME.

[caisson71]

And we thought "what the definition of "is" is" was bad enough.

[caisson71]

Ohhhhh, that's good....best one today!!

[Ethyl]

March 29th?????

It takes a month and a half to change a semi-colon?

Again.... Unbelievable!

I think that all these political types, judges; mayors and what not are in cahoots with the gays in trying to totally embarass this nation. May they all rot. See I used a semi-colon. This is a travesty of the law. Thank the Lord I live in a decent place and not the indecency of kalifornia.

[ibbryn]

I gotta get right over to San Fran. I want the Mayor to issue me a CCW permit.