California's new era of same-sex marriage
http://socialistworker.org/2008/06/24/new-era-same-sex-marriageCamille White-Avian reports on the scene of joy and pride as the first same-sex marriages were performed in California
June 24, 2008
A crowd gathered outside San Francisco's City Hall to celebrate the first same-sex marriages (Matt Swagler | SW)A crowd gathered outside San Francisco's City Hall to celebrate the first same-sex marriages (Matt Swagler | SW)
"I NEVER thought this was going to happen, to tell you the truth," Clara Brock told the San Francisco Chronicle June 16 after her friends Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon--together for 55 years--were married as the era of same-sex marriages began in California.
In the wake of a California Supreme Court decision overturning a law banning gay marriage, couples lined up when the day finally arrived. In San Francisco, a crowd of 300 or so activists, supporters, reporters and community members met the couples outside with shouts of joy, as the San Francisco Gay/Lesbian Freedom Band played, Ben & Jerry's gave out free ice cream, and a huge cake was cut passed around to activists.
Several antigay bigots holding signs and talking into a bullhorn came to protest, but they were drowned out by loud chants of "Racist, sexist, antigay, right-wing fascists go away!"
