Sun Feb 12 2006
Same-Sex Couples to Celebrate Valentine's Day at County Clerk Offices in California
Two years ago on February 12th, Gavin Newsom opened the
doors to City Hall and over 4,000 same-sex couples were married in San Francisco. Those marriages
were later overturned but the determination to end discrimination is stronger than
ever. Equality California (EQCA) has launched a month-long campaign to galvanize people around the cause of ending marriage discrimination against same-sex couples. EQCA's Get Engaged Tour has hit the road, carrying the message of marriage equality to virtually all 58 counties in California.
Anti-equality opponents hope that supporters of same-sex marriage stay at home on Valentine's Day. Randy Thomasson will be travelling around the state on what he is calling his "real marriage tour." A highlight of the Get Engaged Tour will take place on Valentine's Day, when thousands of LGBT Californians will put their hearts into the marriage equality cause. In each county, couples will to go to their county clerk's office to request a marriage license. These actions will highlight the government's discrimination against same-sex couples, and give a face to the part of the population that is negatively impacted by the inability to marry.
Some local February 14th actions: There will be a marriage counteraction at Noon on Tuesday at the Sonoma County Clerks Office at 2300 County Center Drive, Suite B177 in Santa Rosa. Last year Sonoma County had the biggest turnout in the state at its Valentine's Day event. Same-sex couples are going to go inside to request marriage licenses, and straight and LGBT supporters will cheer them on while bearing witness to the discrimination against them. Clergy who are willing to conduct marriage ceremonies if they were legal will also be in attendance. An Alameda County Valentine's Day Celebration will be held in Oakland on Tuesday evening, from 6pm to 10pm. It will take place at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th Street by Castro (about five blocks from the 12th street BART station). People will gather at San Francisco City Hall at 1:00pm.
Find your local EQCA chapter and its Valentine's Day action
