California became the second state in the U.S. to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples as a historic court ruling legalizing gay and lesbian weddings took effect, media reported Tuesday.
As of 5:01 p.m. on Monday, gay and lesbian couples in California can have the legal right to marry in the state.
At least five county clerks around the state agreed to extend their hours to issue licenses for those who want to be among the first. In San Francisco, where the lawsuits began that led to the ruling by California's supreme court, almost 620 same-sex couples have booked appointments to get licenses over the next 10 days.
Thousands of gay couples from around the country are now expected to get married in California.
"These are not folks who just met each other last week and said, `Let's get married.' These are folks who have been together in some cases for decades," said Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
Gavin Newsom, San Francisco mayor and a long time proponent of equal marriage rights, presided over one of the first legal unions in California. Gavin Newsom, San Francisco mayor and a long time proponent of equal marriage rights, presided over one of the first legal unions in California, between lifelong lesbian activists Phyllis Lyon, 84, and Del Martin, 87.
Standing beside Lyon and Martin, Newsom spoke of the couple's tremendous love for each other and their strength in continuing the fight for equal recognition of their half-century long relationship under the law. "This moment to me," Newsom told a loudly cheering crowd outside of City Hall, "is a manifestation of love made visible."
"It's something that's been due a long time, so thank God it's finally here," Lyon told the press outside of City Hall. "Our love and lives together deserve celebrating. Although we have little need for more kitchen gadgets, we do believe a government acknowledgment of our fundamental constitutional rights is a fitting gift."
The California Supreme Court ruled on May 15, 2008, that the state can not bar same-sex marriages, marking a major victory for gay rights advocates that may have national implications.
Massachusetts is the only U.S. state before California Supreme Court's decision to allow gay marriage. Its highest court ruled in 2003 that a ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional, paving the way for America's first same-sex marriages the following year.
Currently, 45 states in U.S. have laws explicitly prohibiting same-sex marriage, including 26 with constitutional amendments restricting marriage to one man and one woman and 19 with statutory laws barring same-sex unions.
Source:Xinhua
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