Same-sex Couples Get Married in California

SelectPlusSame-sex Couples Get Married in CaliforniaSame-sex Couples Get Married in CaliforniaThe Associated PressDozens of gay couples were married Monday after a landmark ruling making California the second state to allow same-sex nuptials went into effect. The AP's John Mone was there as the oldest couple who wed celebrated with San Francisco's mayor. (June 17)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] [[SUPER: San Francisco, CA]]OCTOGENARIANS...AND IN LOVE FOR FOR FIVE DECADES...THEY JUST HAPPEN TO BE WOMEN WHO UNTIL NOW...COULDN'T LEGALLY WED... [[SOT:Phyllis Lyon, Lesbian Rights Activist] "when we first got together....we weren't thinking about getting married...just getting together..." PHYLLIS LYON AND DEL MARTIN WERE AMONG THE FIRST OF DOZENS OF GAY COUPLES TO GET MARRIED IN CALIFORNIA...A RIGHT GIVEN BY THE STATE'S SUPREME COURT...WHEN IT STRUCK DOWN THE GOLDEN STATE'S BAN ON SAME SEX MARRIAGE-- THE RULING BECAME OFFICIAL AT 1 MINUTE PAST FIVE IN THE EVENING.. [[SUPER: Gavin Newsom//San Francisco Mayor]"and today we can confidently say in the state of California...we are advancing marriage equally and fairly..denying no one the right to live their lives out loud as phyllis and del do........what a day!" SAN FRANCISCO'S MAYOR FAMOUSLY GAVE OUT HUNDREDS OF MARRIAGE LICENSES AT CITY HALL FOUR YEARS AGO TO GAY COUPLES..HIS ACT ULTIMATELY STRUCK DOWN BY THE STATE.. FOUR YEARS AGO DEL AND PHYLLIS WERE THE FIRST TO WED TOO... GAY RIGHTS ADVOCATES HERALDED TODAY...AS A WATERSHED MOMENT.. [[SUPER: Kate Kendall//National Center for Lesbian Rights] "history has been made of the most profound kind. the kind of history that historians write about. and that being alive for is the greatest privilege possible." [[nats full outdoors]]OUTSIDE CITY HALL WASN'T ALL CHEERS...A SMATTERING OF ANTI-GAY MARRIAGE...AND ANTI GAY PROTESTERS MADE THEIR VIEWS SEEN WITH SIGNS...AND VOICES HEARD.. [[SUPER: Luong Do//Opposes Same Sex Marriage] "homosexual, bisexual....love is evil. it is cursed by God. it doesn't matter if these people give it credence..." ACROSS THE STATE...GAY MARRIAGE OPPONENTS FILED LAST MINUTE APPEALS TO HALT THE GRANTING OF MARRIAGE LICENSES AND SENT FAXES TO CLERKS TELLING THEM THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO GIVE THEM OUT IF THEY FELT IT VIOLATED THEIR BELIEFS. BUT IN SAN FRANCISCO...A CITY WITH A STRONG GAY COMMUNITY THE SHOW WENT ON. TODAY WAS A DAY FOR CELEBRATION...AND FOR CUTTING WEDDING CAKE...... JOHN MONE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA


MARRIAGES

Tags :california, couples, gay, marriage, married, same-sex