top
Peninsula
Peninsula
Indybay
Indybay
Indybay
Regions
Indybay Regions North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area California United States International Americas Haiti Iraq Palestine Afghanistan
Topics
Newswire
Features
From the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature

Same Sex Couples Request Marriage Licenses in San Mateo

by Ruth Robertson
Same-sex couples requesting marriage licenses today were joined by members of supporting organizations, guest speakers, and the Raging Grannies on the front steps of the San Mateo County Clerk’s office. Their requests for marriage licenses was symbolic of the struggle that continues for full equality for gays and lesbians. San Mateo County Deputy Assessor County Clerk-Recorder Theresa Rabe spoke out in support of full marriage rights. She said that the short period in which gays and lesbians were able to marry legally in California was sadly cut off by Proposition 8, which passed in November of 2008, and shared a scrapbook of wedding photos taken at the county courthouse during that time.

Photos: Justin Miel and Ruth Robertson. Top Photo: Rich Gordon addresses the crowd, by Ruth Robertson
640_idotop2.jpg
February 12th is the National Freedom to Marry Day. In San Mateo, the day was used to raise awareness with a rally on the front steps of the San Mateo County Clerk’s office.

Same-sex couples requesting marriage licenses today were joined by supporters and guest speakers, including County Board of Supervisors President Rich Gordon, former Sheriff and County Supervisor Candidate Don Horsley, and PFLAG San Jose/Peninsula President Laurie Carter. The event coincided with dozens of similar rallies held nationwide.

San Mateo County Deputy Assessor County Clerk-Recorder Theresa Rabe spoke out in support of full marriage rights. She said that the short period in which gays and lesbians were able to marry legally in California was sadly cut off by Proposition 8, which passed in November of 2008. She shared a scrapbook of wedding photos taken at the county courthouse during that time and invited those in attendance to record messages in the album. The scrapbook, that includes articles from the press as well as photos of gay marriages, will be donated to the county historical society when the time finally is reached when gay marriage are once again legal in California, Ms. Rabe said.

Since 2001, Marriage Equality USA chapters have held annual rallies nationwide to educate the public on the harmful impact of the inability to marry on American families. Marriage Equality USA was founded February 12, 1998. It is an all-volunteer, national organization whose mission is to secure legally recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation.
§The gathered crowd
by Ruth Robertson
640_idojmbullhorn.jpg
Photo by Justin Miel. All rights reserved. For permission to use contact Justin [at] gotmiel.com
§Raging Grannies crank up the AMP
by Ruth Robertson
640_idojmgrnsamp.jpg
Photo by Justin Miel. All rights reserved. For permission to use contact Justin [at] gotmiel.com
§Raging Grannies listen to speakers
by Ruth Robertson
640_idorgstop.jpg
photo by R. Robertson under Creative Commons License
§Marriage Minded Men
by Ruth Robertson
640_idojmmarrigeminded.jpg
Photo by Justin Miel. All rights reserved. For permission to use contact Justin [at] gotmiel.com
§Theresa Rabe of the County Clerk's Office
by Ruth Robertson
640_idotrabbencouples.jpg
photo by R. Robertson under Creative Commons License
§The Grannies sing out against Prop 8 and the damage it has done
by Ruth Robertson
640_idojmrgstop.jpg
Photo by Justin Miel. All rights reserved. For permission to use contact Justin [at] gotmiel.com
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!

Donate

$110.00 donated
in the past month

Get Involved

If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.

Publish

Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.

IMC Network