# San Francisco allows lesbian couple to marry. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 12, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922 "2004-02-12T21:43:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/1 "2004-02-12T21:43:52Z")
[About damn time.](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20040212/ap_on_re_us/gay_marriage_calif_10) They’ve been a couple for \*\*51 \*\* years. And they still wanted to get married!! I just think that’s beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/2 "2004-02-12T22:26:49Z")
I got goosebumps when I heard this. I’m thrilled beyond belief. It’s not over, of course, this is just one salvo in this ongoing battle. But it’s kindled a spark of hope in me. I can hope that someday, I can solemnize my relationship with my boyfriend, I can get legal recognitions that protect us in times of need, and we can be better able to build a good, long, healthy relationship together. February 12th, 2004. It’s a good day. [Yahoo news](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&e=1&u=/ap/20040212/ap_on_re_us/gay_marriage_calif) [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/02/12/gay.marriage.california.ap/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/3 "2004-02-12T22:41:57Z")
My town rules ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/4 "2004-02-12T22:43:28Z")
I can’t think of anyone left alive who deserves the honor of being the first more than these two. These women have been active in the gay community for decades. Hell, these women were among those who pretty much _invented_ the gay community. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/5 "2004-02-12T22:47:44Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > I can’t think of anyone left alive who deserves the honor of being the first more than these two. These women have been active in the gay community for decades. Hell, these women were among those who pretty much _invented_ the gay community. Do they get the Legal Rights of a state marrage? Tax filing, etc. (I hope so) ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/6 "2004-02-12T23:17:36Z")
I wish Ms. Lyon and Ms. Martin a long and happy marriage. It’s pretty sad, though, how I hear good news like this and wonder to myself how long it will be before the inevitable social conservative legislative backlash. Sometimes it really sucks living in a country filled with religious fanatics. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/7 "2004-02-12T23:28:43Z")
> [@Jake](#): > > Do they get the Legal Rights of a state marrage? Tax filing, etc. (I hope so) Unknown. California doesn’t currently recognize SSM on the state level. Proposition 22, a voter-approved initiative that passed a few years back, defines marriage as being man-woman, one each. Some claim that because of the section of the CA family code Prop 22 modified, it only prevents CA from recognizing SSM from other states. There’s a bill pending to legalize SSM in CA but even if it passes it’s unlikely that Arnie would sign it. At some point this couple is going to attempt to assert a state marital right and the state will have to decide to allow it or not. Eventually courts will become involved. Interesting times indeed. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/8 "2004-02-12T23:40:27Z")
NOOOOOOOOO! Now an asteroid is going to hit and California will drop into the sea!!! Ahem. Okay,marriage really is different. I lived with my husband 6 months before we married, and it took on new commitment when we were official. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/9 "2004-02-13T00:03:29Z")
[Some](http://www.geocities.com/mycauses/legend.html) [more](http://www.noevalleyvoice.com/2003/February/Lyon.html) [about](http://www.encyclopedia4u.com/d/del-martin-and-phyllis-lyon.html) [the](http://netscape.planetout.com/pno/specials/pride/features/lyonmartin.html) [brides](http://www.txtriangle.com/archive/1136/coverstory.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/10 "2004-02-13T01:23:25Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Unknown. California doesn’t currently recognize SSM on the state level. Proposition 22, a voter-approved initiative that passed a few years back, defines marriage as being man-woman, one each. Some claim that because of the section of the CA family code Prop 22 modified, it only prevents CA from recognizing SSM from other states. There’s a bill pending to legalize SSM in CA but even if it passes it’s unlikely that Arnie would sign it. > > At some point this couple is going to attempt to assert a state marital right and the state will have to decide to allow it or not. Eventually courts will become involved. > > Interesting times indeed. I thought Arnie was pro-SSM? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/11 "2004-02-13T02:04:32Z")
> [@dutchboy208](#): > > I thought Arnie was pro-SSM? Arnold thinks that [“gay marriage should be between a man and a woman.”](http://www.welovearnold.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Hamish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Hamish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamish)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/12 "2004-02-13T02:59:46Z")
I just realized they’re the couple on the May-June 2003 cover of _The Gay and Lesbian Review_, doing the _American Gothic_ painting! (Looked for an online picture, but couldn’t find it – it’s a really neat cartoon) ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/13 "2004-02-13T03:04:27Z")
I really hope this is the spark that is needed to take this all the way. Woo San Francisco! I wonder if Santa Cruz will follow suit. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/14 "2004-02-13T03:23:23Z")
In other news, President Bush is deeply, deeply disturbed. He’s also worried about what this marriage will mean to the “will of the people”, since of course the issue of gay marriage is coming up for a national vote, just like other issues of civil rights. How Brown was able to coax Americans to vote for him instead of the Topeka Board of Education is beyond me… ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/15 "2004-02-13T03:27:27Z")
There are now [15](http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/02/021204sfMarriage.htm) married couples in San Francisco. Two couples who applied for licenses in Los Angeles were denied (the linked story incorrectly says SF instead of LA). The radical right has vowed to battle the “unlawful certificates” and Lambda Legal has promised to meet them at every challenge. Any SF Dopers? Can y’all explain how the mayor of the _city_ of San Francisco has authority over the San Francisco _County_ Clerk’s office? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/16 "2004-02-13T03:31:48Z")
> [@vanilla](#): > > NOOOOOOOOO! > > Now an asteroid is going to hit and California will drop into the sea!!! Relax. They legalised same-sex marriage here last year and nothing happ– . . . CARRIER LOST ( Serious congratulations are in order. 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/17 "2004-02-13T03:36:00Z")
Sorry, it’s actually [87](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040213/ap_on_re_us/gay_marriage_calif&cid=519&ncid=716) couples who have married. Another eight licenses were issued. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/18 "2004-02-13T03:56:32Z")
Would they be allowed where You live? and where is that, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/19 "2004-02-13T03:57:26Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Any SF Dopers? Can y’all explain how the mayor of the _city_ of San Francisco has authority over the San Francisco _County_ Clerk’s office? San Francisco City and County are the same thing - the borders are identical. As a result, the city/county has an unusual set-up. For instance, there isn’t a city council; instead, there’s a county board of supervisors, run by the mayor. I’ve never been prouder to be a San Franciscan than I am right now. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922/20 "2004-02-13T04:03:46Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Any SF Dopers? Can y’all explain how the mayor of the _city_ of San Francisco has authority over the San Francisco _County_ Clerk’s office? Legally, the [City and County of San Francisco](http://www.sfgov.org) are the same entity. From the charter: \*SEC. 1.100. NAME AND BOUNDARIES. The City and County of San Francisco shall continue as a consolidated city and county with such boundaries as are prescribed by law, pursuant to this Charter and the laws of the State of California. \* I’ll leave it to the ambitious to read through the rest of the [charter.](http://www.amlegal.com/sfcharter_nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates&fn=default.htm&vid=alp:sf_charter) (Give it a moment to appear on the left) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-allows-lesbian-couple-to-marry/228922.md?page=2)