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SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) --
In an open challenge to California law,
city authorities performed at least 15 same-sex weddings Thursday
and issued about a dozen more marriage licenses to gay and lesbian
couples.
By midafternoon, jubilant gay couples were lining up under City
Hall's ornate gold dome and exchanging vows in two-minute ceremonies
that followed one after another.
"Today a barrier to true justice has been removed," said Gavin
Newsom, newly elected mayor of the city considered the capital of
gay America.
No state legally sanctions gay marriage, and it remains unclear
what practical value the marriage licenses will have. The weddings
violate a ballot measure California voters approved in 2000 that
defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
The move by San Francisco's mayor came as lawmakers in
Massachusetts continued to debate a constitutional amendment to ban
gay marriage in that state, where the nation's first legally
recognized same-sex weddings are set to take place this spring under
a ruling from the Massachusetts high court.
The assembly-line nuptials began with longtime lesbian activists
Phyllis Lyon, 79, and Del Martin, 83, who were hurriedly issued a
marriage license and were wedded just before noon by City Assessor
Mabel Teng in a closed-door civil ceremony at City Hall. The two
have been a couple for 51 years.
About 30 couples crowded outside the San Francisco County Clerk's
office awaiting licenses, many arm in arm. One of the women, wearing
a white wedding dress and veil, encouraged couples to shout out
their names and how long they had been together.
"I understand there are wrinkles that need to be worked out, but
as far as I'm concerned, we will be married," said Molly McKay as
she and her partner of eight years, Davina Kotulski, stood at the
clerk's counter.
During one of the weddings, performed before TV cameras, the vows
were rewritten so that "husband and wife" became "spouse for life."
A conservative group called the Campaign for California Families
called the marriages a sham.
"These unlawful certificates are not worth the paper they are
printed on. The renegade mayor of San Francisco has no authority to
do this," said Randy Thomasson, executive director. "This is nothing
more than a publicity stunt that disrespects our state law and
system of government itself."
San Francisco officials insisted the licenses are legally binding
and would immediately confer new benefits in everything from health
coverage to funeral arrangements.
California Attorney General Bill Lockyer had no comment.
The gay marriages were timed by city officials to outmaneuver the
conservative group. The group had planned to go to court on Friday
to stop the mayor's announced plans to issue marriage licenses to
gay couples. But city officials struck first.
Lyon and Martin said after their brief ceremony that they were
going home to rest and did not plan anything to celebrate. The
couple seemed proud of what they had done.
"Why shouldn't we" be able to marry? Lyon asked.
The mayor was not present at the morning ceremony but later
presented Martin and Lyon with a signed copy of the state
constitution with sections related to equal rights highlighted.
The two official witnesses were Kate Kendell, director of the
National Center for Lesbian Rights and former city official Roberta
Achtenberg.
The conservative group fighting gay marriage has also sued to try
to block California's domestic partner law, which then-Gov. Gray
Davis signed in September.
That law expands the rights of gay couples in areas ranging from
health coverage and parental status to property ownership and
funeral arrangements.
Copyright 2004 The
Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten,
or redistributed.
