The Queer Librarian: News, Information, Resources

Channel NewsAsia, June 17, 2008

BEVERLY HILLS, California: California began issuing same-sex marriage licenses on Monday, as a historic court ruling legalising gay and lesbian weddings took effect.

Two lesbian couples who had been in the forefront of the battle to overturn the state's ban on same-sex marriage were the first to be issued licenses at ceremonies in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Authorities began granting marriage licenses at 5:01 pm local time (0001 GMT), with the first weddings due to take place soon afterwards, while an expected state-wide stampede by thousands of couples begins on Tuesday.

In Los Angeles, Robin Tyler and Diane Olson – who were the first plaintiffs in the lawsuit that led to the California Supreme Court overturning the ban last month – received their license at the Beverly Hills County Courthouse.

The couple, wearing tailor-made cream linen suits, arrived at the court in a limousine at around 4:00 pm and were due to be wed on the steps of the building shortly afterwards.

At the same time in San Francisco, Mayor Gavin Newsom was to officiate at the wedding of veteran campaigners Del Martin, 87, and Phyllis Lyon, 83, who were to exchange vows after 56 years together.

The couple made international headlines in 2004 when they were married in the first round of same-sex marriages in San Francisco, only for their nuptials to later be declared illegal.


- AFP/so

Source: AFP. Permission required for reproduction.