San Francisco Issues Marriage Licenses to Gay Couples

It's becoming not a question of IF but WHEN.

things will happen for the better, but let's kick out the current Admin first...

same reason that breeders seek marriage: tax reasons, benefits and transfer of property.

Not to mention the promise, made binding through a contract (in our mu-tu-al in-trest), that there will be somebody to take care of you as you grow old.

There are many court cases working through the legal system about this issue and creating a public spectacle is only going to benefit the pocketbooks of lawyers on both sides of the issue at tax payer expense.

The more pertinent question is: how many people die alone?

I think it's a good thing and support the decision 100%, but don't kid yourselves, it was a major strategic move, much as I'd love to think it was done purely out of a sense of social justice.

Friday, February 13, 2004 Posted: 10:10 PM EST (0310 GMT)

SAN FRANCISCO, California (CNN) -- A Superior Court judge rejected a motion Friday from a conservative group that asked for an immediate temporary restraining order to stop San Francisco from issuing same-sex marriage licenses.

My former therapist (read: woman who saved my life) and her partner made news in the 80s when they placed a marraige announcement in the Austin papers. They were on the Donahue show and shit.

I want to email her and ask if they're planning an out of town trip to marry but probably not. They're an established Austin lesbian couple and are secure in that I think.

as for the mayor exceeding his power & breaking the law & all of that: it seems to me that when major change must occur, especially in cases regarding discrimination & civil rights, unjust laws have to be challenged. blacks deciding in the civil rights movement that they weren't going to sit in the back of the bus anymore was breaking the law, but it was just. government bureaucracy has its moments but oftentimes i think it's just not enough.

This may not be true, however.

Here's the thing about Bush's reaction -- it's been interestingly muted. Hardly *absent* and it's clear he still is no fan of it but still I was expecting something much more confrontational...there's something interesting there, almost like rather than thinking he could capitalize on the stance it's more a general expression of regrets. He's been trying to focus in on a question of 'judicial activism' but now has been partially trumped by the combination of it being an elected official and by the current size of the turnout, still growing I gather. Rhetorically, I think he's floundering as a result, or else this is in fact the signal, like the weakly worded amendment he allegedly supports, that he knows he might not be able to win this fight.

this is probably a good thing, since things tend to achieve a bit more permanence when the capitalists get involved.

County To Issue Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

March 2, 2004
PORTLAND, ORE. - It has happened in Massachusetts, San Francisco and now it is happening in Portland.

The Multnomah County Clerk's office plans to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples starting tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. at their office located at 501 S.E. Hawthorne.

Can The County Do This?

Oregon's marriage law states that marriage is a civil contract entered between males who are at least 17 years old and females who are at least 17 years old.

The law does not specify whether the marriage has to be between a man and a woman.

A statement issued by the county said simply: "Based on a legal opinion released today by the County Attorney, a majority of the Board of County Commissioners supports a policy change to allow the county to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples."

[etc.]

Hot diggety!

no waiting!

USA Today is taking a poll regarding Bush's proposed Constitutional Amendment
to ban
gay marriage. Please vote and forward this to everyone you know.
The voting process is very quick and easy.
The URL is:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-02-24-gay-marriage-survey.htm

Kids stress gay families' similarities

But if the other lawsuit continues on...

*high fuckin five bro*

Published: March 14, 2005
Filed at 3:33 p.m. ET

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A judge ruled Monday that California's ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional, saying the state could no longer justify limiting marriage to a man and a woman.

In the eagerly awaited opinion likely to be appealed to the state's highest court, San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer said that withholding marriage licenses from gays and lesbians is unconstitutional.

``It appears that no rational purpose exists for limiting marriage in this state to opposite-sex partners,'' Kramer wrote.

The judge wrote that the state's historical definition of marriage, by itself, cannot justify the denial of equal protection for gays and lesbians.

``The state's protracted denial of equal protection cannot be justified simply because such constitutional violation has become traditional,'' Kramer wrote.

Kramer ruled in lawsuits brought by the city of San Francisco and a dozen same-sex couples last March. The suits were brought after the California Supreme Court halted a four-week marriage spree that Mayor Gavin Newsom had initiated in February 2004 when he directed city officials to issue marriage licenses to gays and lesbians in defiance of state law.

The plaintiffs said withholding marriage licenses from gays and lesbians trespasses on the civil rights all citizens are guaranteed under the California Constitution.

Two legal groups representing religious conservatives joined with California Attorney General Bill Lockyer in defending the existing laws and had vowed to appeal if Kramer did not rule in their favor.

Lockyer's office has said it expects the matter eventually will have to be settled by the California Supreme Court.

A pair of bills pending before the California Legislature would put a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage on the November ballot. If California voters approve such an amendment, as those in 13 other states did last year, that would put the issue out of the control of lawmakers and the courts.

Gay marriage ban overturned in California

Yay!

Now we'll see how good McCain/Obama are at pandering real quick!

Stay rejected. That means my friends will be able to get married in July.

Ah, you just wanna go for the open bar.

Well, yes, naturally. I love how when the ban first hit, the local papers weren't so much 'human rights' and 'finally' as '$$$$$$$'.

Gay Marriage is so gay.

We got stories like that down here as well. Apparently it's single-handedly saved the local wedding economy.

Amongst all the cohabitators I know (incl. myself), it's odd how most of the ones who actually want to get married are 'mos.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/27/lesbian.activist.dies/index.html

Lesbian activist who fought for marriage rights dies

SAN FRANCISCO, California (CNN) -- Lesbian activist Del Martin, at the forefront of the battle for same-sex marriage in California, died Wednesday in San Francisco. She was 87.

Martin's partner of 55 years, Phyllis Lyon, was by her side at the UCSF hospice, the National Center for Lesbian Rights said.

Martin and Lyon, 84, tied the knot June 16 in a ceremony officiated by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.

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MIAMI, FL --

Khloe Kardashian may have moved to Miami for her new E! reality show “Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami,” but she’s eagerly awaiting Tuesday’s decision from the California State Supreme Court regarding Proposition 8, which currently prohibits same sex marriage.

“This is a day that hundreds of thousands of both gay and straight people have been waiting for,” Khloe wrote on her official blog over the weekend. “[It’s] a moment that people will always remember…a moment where gay couples are told whether they share the same civil rights as any straight couple, or a moment where they are told they have to continue fighting for their equality.”

Last fall, Prop 8 passed in California, outlawing same-sex marriage in the state. Following its passage, thousands of people including celebrities such as Janice Dickinson, took to the streets in protest. Dozens of celebrities have spoken out or joined protests against the proposition, both before and after its passing, including Ellen DeGeneres, Wanda Sykes, Melissa Etheridge, Rose McGowan and Ricki Lake.

In her latest blog, Khloe said she was upset that the legality of gay marriage is still an issue in California.

“It disgusts me that this is something that has to be fought for in the first place,” she wrote. “Love is love…and the people who voted for Prop 8 cast their vote for hate.

“After the decision is made on Tuesday, no matter the outcome, marriage equality advocates will rally all over the country,” she added.

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California high court upholds gay marriage ban but allows existing same-sex marriages to stand.
May 26 12:03 PM US/Eastern

That is such a retarded ruling.