June 16, 2008: First Same-Sex Marriage Happening in California

Filed in archive News Of Note , Real Weddings on June 13, 2008

© DrStarbuck


In San Francisco on June 16 (Monday), the first same-sex marriage in California will occur.

Veteran lesbian activists Del Martin, 87, and Phyllis Lyon, 83, whose 2004 wedding in San Francisco was invalidated by the california supreme court, will be the first same-sex couple to legally marry there on Monday, June 16 at 5 p.m. when the high court's May ruling finding a constitutional right to marry for same-sex couples takes effect.

It is the only one that Mayor Gavin Newsom will allow that day before county clerks across the state must begin issuing licenses to same-sex couples the next morning.

The clerk in rural Kern County is resisting the change, suspending marriage solemnizations - but not licenses - for straight and gay couples.

Well, same-sex marriage is here to stay, i think.

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