The first same-sex couples will be getting married today in accordance with the California Supreme Court’s May 15th ruling on same-sex marriage equality.
Tara Borelli, a Staff Attorney in the Western Regional Office of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, will appear on Long Beach Charter television LIVE tonight to discuss issues surrounding same sex marriage and domestic partnerships on The Gay & Lesbian Newsmagazine from 7 to 8 pm on channel 95 (65/69) in the Greater Long Beach area. Phone calls and questions will be taken.
Lambda Legal is the oldest and largest legal organization dedicated to advancing the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV, and was co-counsel to the case resulting in the California Supreme Court decision.
The High Court’s ruling formally takes effect at 5:01 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, June 16, 2008. Since most county offices are closed at five o’clock, Tuesday will be the day that most counties begin to issue marriage licenses and conducting non-denominational civil ceremonies for couples who choose to forego church weddings.
However, in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, one same-sex couple in each county respectively, will be married today after the ruling goes into effect.
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom will officiate one wedding tonight. Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, who have been partners for over fifty years, made history on February 12th 2004 when they were the first couple to be married in San Francisco during the short window of time that same sex weddings were conducted in the city. After the weddings were stopped, the couple became plaintiffs in the case that led to the May 15th State Supreme Court decision.
Mayor Newsom will be hearing the marriage vows of the two women tonight. The San Francisco clerk’s office will re-open the next day and have extended hours of operation. Officials indicate that they can issue up to 250 licenses and conduct 500 marriages each day.
Robin Tyler and Diane Olson will be married in front of the Beverly Hills Courthouse where they had sought a marriage license on Valentine’s Day 2004, and subsequently became plaintiffs in the landmark case. Their lawsuit, filed by attorney Gloria Allred, was one of those that led the way to the current decision.
Los Angeles County has prepared for the many happy couples by putting up a tent outside the Norwalk Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office. They have trained and authorized over seventy people to perform civil wedding ceremonies in anticipation of a huge turn-out in the next two weeks.
In Long Beach, The Center will be conducting ceremonies on Tuesday and SoCal Officiant, a company authorized to issue marriage licenses, will be performing ceremonies at the beach for same-sex couples on Tuesday and Wednesday by the Belmont Pier.