I’ve been waiting for this day with eager anticipation since the CA Supreme Court ruled in favour of marriage equality last month. At 5:01pm Del Martin and Phyllis Lyons, who have been “dating” since 1950, will be the first same-sex couple to marry in California (again).
This photo was taken when they married in 2004. I know I’ve posted it before, but I just couldn’t resist. (image source)
Alameda, Sonoma and Yolo counties will begin issuing marriage licenses to the public Monday night at 5:01pm. Tomorrow the rest of the county clerks offices in California will start issuing marriage licenses to all couples regardless of sexual orientation, except for Kern County…they are going to cease issuing marriage licenses to anyone. New York State recently announced that they will recognize same-sex marriages performed outside of the state.
The California Travel and Tourism Commission just added a page on same-sex marriage locations and honeymoon packages. A smart move since a study from UCLA’s Williams Institute predicts an “estimate that allowing same-sex couples to marry will result in approximately $63.8 million in revenue for the state of California over the next three years.”
In other happy marriage related news, Norway recently became the 6th country to allow same-sex couples to wed, joining Canada, South Africa, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands! Woo hoo! I love fjords! Suddenly I feel like honeymooning in Oslo.
Given that we’ve recently moved from sunny Southern California to cold and rainy Vancouver, BC, the likelihood of us honeymooning near the Artic is pretty slim. Actually, paying a visit to NY seems like a great idea!
Kern county is not officiating any weddings because they disagree? Yeah, that’s a great solution to “preserve the sanctity of marriage,” no one gets married. Lame.
The Kern county registrar asked if they could deny same-sex couples… and the response was that it would be discriminatory and they would need to deny all couples… so that’s what they are doing.
Way to go and jump the gun Yolo 
I can be proud of my new county!
Aww Miss Gingerbread, you went and did it again!
Posting that picture of those ladies gives me goosebumps every time. My heart breaks a little bit each time I see that picture. Saying that I’m happy for them would be a total understatement.
Yay Cali! The rest of the country needs to pull their heads out when it comes to constitutional amendments…I was really annoyed at TX, but I can’t say I was TOO surprised. Luckily I got to go to a law school graduation in CA recently, and there was a LOT of support from the lawyers on the CA ruling….
You’re just trying to make me cry again with that top photo!! 
And what’s up with Kern!? Jeez. Talk about being a snot over not getting your way!
I love ladies like the Kern one. Truly. Just totally crazy; (sniff) reminds me of myself, in my younger days . . .
Oh my gosh, I keep crying every time I see pictures like these. Just makes me so happy. I’m originally from MA ,now in CA, and so happy that both my home states are making me proud!
You forgott Sweden and the UK. The names are different (registered partnership) but the
Sorry I try again, your forgot sweden and the UK, the name is differnt but the legal rights are the same
It’s great news the more countries that allows gay marrige the weirder other countries will look
//m
Mrs. Gingerbread, Vancouver
Age and Occupation: 32, Psychologist
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Software Engineer
Engagement Date: Sometime in the fall of 2004
Wedding Date: July, 2008
Blogging Since: March 24, 2008
Venue: Rainforest wedding, beachfront restaurant reception
About Me: I recently moved to Canada from Southern California. Trying to plan a wedding in a new city, not to mention a new country, is tough, but the fact that we can get legally married here more than makes up for it! The wedding will be an opportunity for most of our family and friends to see our new city for the first time so it will be both a wedding and a reunion. Besides my future wife, I am also madly in love with a good bargain, Swedish pastries, Tivo, and my two dogs and calico cat (in no particular order).
Those ladies make me tear up every time I see that picture