Thoughts by local bloggers about the same sex marriages that will take place in California beginning today:
Marke B:OK, so this is it. This is the day I'm finally equal. No longer a
"second class citizen" -- in California at least, the third biggest
state with the largest population in the good ol' US of Gay. Today at
5pm, two precious octagenarian lesbians will legally tie the knot
at San Francisco City Hall, and tomorrow I'll have access to the last
state right denied to me on the basis of which side I butter my queer
toast. Weird.
Will I suddenly walk taller? Will my shoulders expand and my chest
inflate? Will I finally fall prey to all that Sex and the City hoo-ha
and watch my moods swing from Blahnik pump to Wang gown with every
hysterical cosmo and Cosmo I down? Or will I become the stereotypical
male role model -- unable to commit to an ice cream flavor or credit
card company, let alone matrimony.
SFist:
We couldn't be happier. Money is power, folks. And SF is about to
feel loads of it splatter against its backside when scores of queers
come here to get hitched starting tonight.
Awesome.
Calitics:
It's pretty special to witness this, although my real hope is for
the day when this is unexceptional. These are our neighbors, our mail
carriers, our office workers, our waitstaff, our bosses, our
dogwalkers, our friends. And they have their personal lives as do we.
And starting tonight, there are no barriers between us.
There is an enormous political battle ahead. But today is simple and special.
Sam Spade:
At 5:01 p.m. in San Francisco, after being together for more than 50 years, Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin will finally be legally married. Phyllis and Del, like so many other loving couples, have been waiting for this day for so long.
Gay Species:
Today, 16 June 2008, is pretty joyous in the Golden State. Another
milestone has been achieved, once again by Republicans (CA's
Republicans are closer to Schwarzenegger than G.W.B., who is closer to
. . . well, you know.) It's also a good time to pause in the
celebrations, and reflect on the route to this moment.
Most
people have chosen 1969's Stonewall "Rebellion" as the date of Gay
Liberation. I suppose it is as good a date as any to use. But I had no
cognizance of it until the Eighties, so someone forgot to tell a great
many of us on the sunny Pacific Coast about the event. (It was one of
Harvey's many widows who brought it to my attention in one his less
appealing moments.) I feel we dis-serve those of the Mattachine Society
and the Daughter of Bilitis predecessors (which I did know) by this
arbitrary date, but let's go with the 1969 Stonewall "event."
In
less than forty years, and the Homophile Renaissance has gone from a
"deep dirty dark secret" and closets to employment, housing, and
accommodations (outside of the Civil Rights Act of 1964), including
another decision for "open equality and marriage." In terms of human history, this rapidly developing renaissance is unthinkable.
Blogging Bayport Alameda:
Congratulations to everyone, particularly Alameda couples who will be
making the big plunge until we see what happens in November. But
here’s a reception tip, we got our cake at La Farine in
Oakland and it was delicious. I know, I know, it’s not an Alameda
based bakery, but their cakes are too good to pass up. However, I’m
sure that the Alameda based bakeries like Boniere and even Tucker’s
(for the ice cream fans) will serve just as well.
