“It’s kind of validation of what we’ve known for so long,” Westerlund said of the court’s decision. Geller and Westerlund have twin 8-year-old daughters, Abigail and Miranda. Then in 2008, they did it all over again, this time it was legal under the law. They went with a private ceremony afterward, which was not recognized, Geller said. The couple were first married in 2004, they explained, but that was invalidated. They had a sign that, against a bright pink backdrop, read: “Married in 2004 + 2008. “This year there’s a real sense of recognition by the federal government.” “It feels more celebratory,” said Geller, 46. “I’ve been married 28 years, but legally for three days,” Paulson said.įor Miriam Geller and her wife, Terri Westerlund, marching in Sunday’s parade also felt different. The department is showing its support for the LGBT community, the newlywed said. “It feels phenomenally different from previous years,” said sheriff’s Capt. “It’s a matter of equality, a matter of justice.”įor the first time in the parade’s history, the San Francisco sheriff’s color guard took to the front of the parade, flying four flags: one each for the city, state and county - and one rainbow flag. A high school physics teacher, Rubin had always missed the parade seemingly every year, busy with something else. The Brooklyn native moved to the Bay Area in 1990 and has seen the city and parade grow in leaps and bounds since then. His white T-shirt, ball cap and shorts stood out for their simplicity among the sequins and rainbow-colored outfits other marchers wore. Joe Rubin marched in the parade quietly, near the front of the group - but off to the side by himself. The court decisions mean, “a lot of the people I love can now love each other legally.” “Where else would you want to be after this week?” she said. A computer science student in the Los Angeles area, it was her first pride parade in San Francisco. The clerk’s office is open again Sunday, according to the mayor’s office.Īlong Sunday’s parade route, Sarah Heinen, 20, scaled a lamppost clutching a rainbow flag in her teeth. On Friday and Saturday, 327 marriage licenses were issued to gay couples in San Francisco. But in a surprise move, a three-judge panel lifted a hold the court had placed on a 2010 injunction ordering state officials to stop enforcing the gay marriage ban.Ĭouples from throughout the state converged on San Francisco City Hall, believed to be the only government office in California issuing marriage licenses over the weekend. The 9th Circuit normally waits 25 days after a Supreme Court case is decided before making any subsequent rulings.
Choose from Same Day Delivery, Drive Up or Order Pickup plus free shipping on orders. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order late Friday that allowed gay marriages to resume in California, a step that ProtectMarriage said was premature and in violation of procedural rules. Shop Target for gay pride clothing you will love at great low prices. Boutrous said that Kennedy, who handles petitions from the Western states, did not comment on the decision.