You Are Now Pronounced Party A And Party B

Longtime Partners, And Opponents Of Same-Sex Marriage, Prepare For California's Historic Law

(CBS)  Even for a state used to earthquakes, the California Supreme Court's decision last month to legalize same sex marriage was a jolt. But even as gay couples make plans to wed this week, opponents say tradition should - and will - be restored. Our cover story is reported now by John Blackstone:

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In the cheery rotunda of San Francisco's City Hall … always a great place for a wedding … it's a moment of calm before the storm.

Tomorrow this grand old building will reaffirm its place at the epicenter of the same-sex marriage debate, with what's likely to be the very first legal gay wedding in California performed by San Francisco's mayor Gavin Newsom.

"I don't know what's the big deal at the end of the day to allow people to be treated fairly," Newsom said. "My gosh, what more American value is there than that?"

But American values have generally viewed marriage as joining a man and a woman. Thirty days ago in California that all changed.

Gay couples cheered and began making wedding plans when, in a 4-3 decision, the California Supreme Court struck down the state's ban on gay marriage.

When the ruling takes effect at one minute after 5 tomorrow afternoon, California becomes the only state besides Massachusetts where it's legal to marry someone of the same sex.

For Mayor Newsom it was an unexpected victory in a controversial movement he unleashed in 2004 when he authorized the City Hall marriage of one couple, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, both in their 80s, together more than 50 years.

"I never imagined that at 9:01 when the courts opened after we had married that couple, that they didn't shut us down," Newsom said. "And another couple got married."

As the word spread, dozens and then hundreds of same-sex couples showed up at City Hall, to get licenses and get married.

"And then all of a sudden, 4,036 couples from literally 46 states and 18 countries came together over the course of a month, and then there was a different energy and a different expectation," Newsom said.

Finally the State Supreme Court ordered it to stop. Some couples, who were waiting in line for their chance at marriage, were crushed.

Now the lines will begin again. And not just in San Francisco, but at city halls and county offices across the state.

"There are thousands and thousands, and thousands of couples that want to see their lives affirmed," Newsom said, "but the fact is we're gonna be fine. This is all going to be okay."

For many gay couples, that's an understatement. Some of the more high profile marriage seekers include Ellen Degeneres, who publicly came out on TV more than a decade ago. She announced her intention to wed actress Portia de Rossi.

Actor George Takei, best known as Mr. Sulu on "Star Trek," plans to wed his partner of 21 years, Brad Altman.

Blackstone asked Takei what was the reaction in his household when the news of the Supreme Court decision came.

"We didn't know about it," Takei said, "and we were having a bite to eat in the kitchen over there. And I think I bit into a sandwich when the word came down.

"And all of a sudden Brad fell down to the floor. I mean, he got down on his knees. And I said, you know with my mouth full of food, 'What are you doing?' And he was on his knees and said, 'George, will you marry me?' And I said, 'Darn it! I meant to ask you. You beat me to it!'"

"I just want to be a part of the mainstream American society, which I am," Altman said. "But I don't want to feel like I'm a second-class citizen - That I can have a domestic partnership but I can't have a marriage."

Opponents of same-sex marriage say marriage is much more than a word; it's an important concept with only one meaning.

"By definition marriage is the union of a man and a woman, said Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage (left).

He is among those urging Californians to vote in November for a constitutional amendment to again ban same-sex marriage.

"Now what's gonna happen in the interim?" Brown said. "Likely all the effects we've seen around the country - parents being taught they have no say in what their kids are taught in school, and that Johnny needs to be taught that it's the exact same thing to grow up and marry Jimmy as it is to marry Mary, that there's no distinction at all. That's what the law now says."

Brown says the state supreme court improperly overturned the will of the people. In 2000 California voters approved a measure declaring that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California".

But California does recognize domestic partnerships. Arguing against gay marriage, the state attorney general said domestic partners have rights equal to those of married couples, just under a different name. The state supreme court however ruled that "separate but equal" is not equal.

A CBS News poll conducted last week found that a majority of Americans - 58 percent - support some form of legal recognition for same sex couples. But many still don't want that to be called "marriage."

Twenty-eight percent approve of civil unions, 30 percent for allowing gay couples to marry - the highest number since CBS began asking that question in 2004.

Massachussetts issues same-sex marriage licenses only for residents. Since California has no residency requirement, gay couples from across the country are expected to head west - and then go home to an uncertain legal future.

Right now, 44 states have laws or constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage. Eight states do provide some spousal rights to same-sex partners, but only New York recognizes same-sex marriages performed elsewhere.

"So this is something that's gonna challenge a lot of people," Newsom said. "But I think when they realize that this is really about humanity, this is about human love and expression, it's nothing more than that, then they'll soften. And they'll understand. 'You know what? It's okay. Let's move on to other things.'"

But the opposition in California is strong…

Citizens in Kern County lined up to show their support for County Clerk Ann Barnett. She dodged a reporter's questions after announcing that her office will no longer perform wedding ceremonies. It's an issue several county clerks in California are wrestling with.

Even the most ardent supporters of the new law say it's going to be, well, different.

Blackstone asked Contra Costa County Clerk Steve Weir (left) what was changed about the marriage application.

"Well, instead of 'bride and groom,' it's 'party A and party B.'"

"That's not very romantic!" Blackstone said.

Weir, who said he plans to be the first in line at his own office Tuesday morning to marry his longtime partner, John Hemm ("I will be 'party B'") admitted, "Yeah, it's not very romantic. It's just the way it is. I'm doing it for the ceremony. I'm doing it for the public ritual, which I believe in.

"I like to see people go to the polls to vote because it's a ritual, and I like for people to declare their love for each other and also have some responsibility, and some benefits that come from it, and we're looking forward to all of that."

For the 18 years Weir and Hemm have been together, the closest they got to a marriage ceremony was a staged photo, taken after one too many cocktails. Hemm was wearing white.

"I was just waiting for the time when you could just do it like everybody else does in the world, you just go down to City Hall or to the county clerk's office, get the paperwork done, and not make anything different or special," Hemms aid. "You know, some people in the world want it to be different. They want to be able to point that finger and say, you know, 'Oh, there go those gay people again, making a spectacle of themselves.' No, it's just like anybody else."

But it's not like anybody else, says Brian Brown. To him, gay marriage is an attempt to normalize something that isn't normal at all.

What's normal for George Takei is a world that's ever changing.

"People change," he said. "There was a time when there was no role for women in the institutions of American society. And the strongest contender against the African-American candidate was a woman. People have changed.

"And I know that people can change. Because I grew up behind the barbwire fences of American interment camps. That was in my lifetime. And here I am now, a popular actor, supported by many, many people throughout the country. America changes. America is made up of decent people."

But when the weddings begin again in California, some decent people will see only indecency.

Though that is not likely to diminish the joy for those who thought marriage could never be theirs.

[paulbenedic1]

The issue always has been that the government can waste all the paper it wants, it simply cannot grant the ability of same *** couples to marry. Sadly, then the government has decided that it will take away marriage from the law. Now it''s equal. The laws concerning civil unions contained the exact kinds of language that the laws that are supposed to govern marriage now contain. The only difference is that now the legitimate government service of saying who the husband is and who the wife is has vanished from California... without a vote being cast. Even worse, the language of father and mother is no longer to be used on birth certificates. Is that governmental equality? Is that civil rights? A tiny minority cannot walk, now all must be lame?

[paulbenedic1]

The issue always has been that the government can waste all the paper it wants, it simply cannot grant the ability of same *** couples to marry. Sadly, then the government has decided that it will take away marriage from the law. Now it''s equal. The laws concerning civil unions contained the exact kinds of language that the laws that are supposed to govern marriage now contain. The only difference is that now the legitimate government service of saying who the husband is and who the wife is has vanished from California... without a vote being cast. Even worse, the language of father and mother is no longer to be used on birth certificates. Is that governmental equality? Is that civil rights? A tiny minority cannot walk, now all must be lame?

[mikenyc2]

shameonbush

I''''m not a homophobe, just a realist.To understand the concept of marriage is to recognize the absolute value of human life. The ONLY act that can actually create human life should be enclosed in the protective body of marriage. How can our court system possibly understand marriage, when they are also the ones who condone abortion? America has become so selfish and shallow.

Wow, so I guess couples who adopt should be allowed to marry since they didn''t "create" human life. Talk about selfish and shallow.

[mikenyc2]

shameonbush

I''''m not a homophobe, just a realist.To understand the concept of marriage is to recognize the absolute value of human life. The ONLY act that can actually create human life should be enclosed in the protective body of marriage. How can our court system possibly understand marriage, when they are also the ones who condone abortion? America has become so selfish and shallow.

Wow, so I guess couples who adopt should be allowed to marry since they didn''t "create" human life. Talk about selfish and shallow.

[grammawhamma]

jankebenz: Beware of the devil...he is fooling you and you are falling for it. The devil is very clever. God doesn''t want you to be deceived....listen to God''s word. God says to love one another!

[feelfree4u]

Is Exxon-Mobil hoping to extract "Human Energy" from same-*** couples?

[susanhelit]

The bible is also very clear on lobster - it is forbidden. Wearing a cotton/poly blend? Forbidden. Divorce? Forbidden - they''re very, very, very clear about that one. We allow lots of things the bible would forbid - because - guess what - we aren''t a theocracy! If you believe gay marriage is wrong - don''t have one!

[jankebenz]

Which God are you takling about?
My God wants me to be happy and it seems that your god wants me to be miserable.

My God made me the way I am. Your god has turned you into nothing more than a puppet. Your god is evil, my God is not.

Posted by jeff92706 at 04:47 PM : Jun 15, 2008

Since there is only one true God,and that one true God never makes a mistake, then your god is a phoney!
Life is all about choices, and the God of the bible loves all of us so much that he gave us the freedom to make or own choices. Between right and wrong! The bible was given to us as his word to guide us to make the right choices.The bible is very clear on homosexuality, it is wrong, very wrong. In the end though, its your choice.

[jankebenz]

You might also note that all the anti-gay bible passages are out of Leviticus which is the basis of Hebrew law, a large portion of which is completely ignored by Christians except the parts that support their values. Nice of Christians to be so selective in their use and belief in the bible, glad to see they are discerning in their choice of passages and chapters that support their bigotry...uh I mean values.

Posted by taddles3 at 12:54 AM : Jun 16, 2008

You Wish! The sin of perversion is also listed many a time in the old and new testament, even as a depravity of mind in Romans 1, and a block to entry into heavan in Galatians. Its very plain and simple, no if, ands, and buts about it, one cannot be a homosexual and a christian, period!

[taddles3]

"I thought Christians followed the teachings of Jesus??

Posted by kansas1946 at 12:10 AM : Jun 16, 2008"


Only when his teachings agrees with their beliefs and values. Otherwise they conveniently ignore and dismiss his words.

[grammawhamma]

I highly doubt that you Bible thumpers literaly follow every word in that Bible in your own daily lives. You pick and choose what suits you. How sad that you just don''t get it.

Jesus weeps at what you have done to twist his words to display your disgust of someone, who harms no one, just because they are not like you. Satan works in tricky ways...and you have been taken over by him all in the name of your religious beliefs. How sad that you can''t see it. Remember God is love. Satan is the one who causes hate and bigotry.

[kansas1946]

Lot of old testament going on here. I thought Christians followed the teachings of Jesus??

[kansas1946]

By definition marriage is the union of a man and a woman, said Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage (left).
**********************

Who said. Whose definition?? And besides, who cares. If people I don''t even know get married, just how exactly does that affect my life?

[inventagod2]

''Thou shalt not kill''
Our president has erased THAT Commandment...
along with quite a few others lately...

Now people wish to seal a personal committment
and the self-rightous rise up in fright.

All the old gods are dead and odd
when we look back upon history...
When that glass is used to view the modern gods,
they too, look dead to me. Using those gods to justify hatred - sucks.

[irliberal]

Posted by giddy2000 at 09:55 PM

Okay Giddy - here ya go.

I Samuel 18: 1-4
"After David had finished talking with Saul (Jonathans father and King of Israel), Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his fathers house. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt."

NOW THAT is downright s.e.x.y!!! WOOHOO!

[wscottcarte1]

Why are straight people so obsessed with beastiality, pedophelia and homosexuality. I don''t give one *** what you do in bed...quite frankly it makes me ill to think about it. It''s about time that YOU went into the closet!

[wscottcarte1]

Thou should only have *** for the purpose of procreation...right?

[wscottcarte1]

...bshpungin...AMEN!

[giddy2000]

Homosexuality and bestiality

Lev 18:22-29 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. 23 Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion. 24 Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you. 25 For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants.

[wscottcarte1]

God has never said that my lifestyle is an abomination and he created us to teach you about love and compassion and very directly asks you not to judge.