Businesses and city halls gear up for rush to tie knot · State is first to marry gay couples from anywhere
Dan Glaister in Los Angeles
The Guardian,
Tuesday June 17, 2008
Four years ago nearly 4,000 gay couples were married in San Francisco, only to find their unions annulled by the state's supreme court within months. But from yesterday many of those same couples, and thousands more, were expected to take advantage of the court's latest ruling permitting gay partners to become "spouses for life".
The ruling was due to come into force at 5.01pm yesterday, barring further legal challenges. Several counties and cities planned to keep their clerk's offices open late to hold the first ceremonies.
The mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsome, who jumped the gun four years ago by issuing marriage licences to same-sex couples, will again officiate at a ceremony at the city hall. His first act will be to marry the couple he first joined together four years ago, Phyllis Lyon, 84, and Del
Martin, 87, a lesbian couple who have been partners for 55 years.
More than 600 same-sex couples have booked ceremonies at the city hall in the next 10 days, with 165 scheduled for today.
More at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/17/gayrights.usa
