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Indybay Feature

Visited SF City Hall this afternoon.

by Tom Forbes/David Forbes (davidforbessf [at] hotmail.com)
Visiting San Francisco and spent a little time at the front of City Hall and cheered congratulations to those who were walking out after just being married.
My brother, his partner and I watched and cheered those who left Cith Hall for an hour or so this afternoon. A great deal of positive energy was in the air. Tears from all of us flowed as couple after couple walked out the doors beaming. Some had their hands in the air, others bashfully walked down the stairs trying keep their hands clutched together. Many were showing their love by a kiss to the crowd. Some were accompained by children, other family members (new in-laws), and friends. Watching as they held their marriage license in the air gave even us a sense of enpowerment. The Meriachi Band, Kisses from Kucinich, the passer-outers of donuts and coffee all added to the feeling of community. It had a sense of possible historic significance. Waiting five hours in the rain was not enough to deter those who apparently waited a long time to have this opportunity.
One answered, "Ten years!" to the question, "How long have you been waiting?" The two men had told us that they had been in line since 10:00 am that morning. It was now about 2:30 pm.
They're now threatening tomorrow's rush of gay couples with an estimated 11:00 cessation. We're thinking of heading down to City Hall tomorrow at 4:00 am, so David and David can also have this wonderful acknowledgement from our proud city.
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Comments (Hide Comments)
by citizen
teardrops......... What a wonderful thing to happen for San Franciscans, and for the Gay, Lesbian and Transgender communities.
It has generated interest, money and best of all it has made a lot of people HAPPY. Which by the way, is what life is about.
Peace.
by cp
Hey, if those people actually were able to stop this, would an indian nation be able to legalize same sex marraiges?
american indians were given U.S. citizenship in 1924, setting up the dual sovereignty situation. So, those countries can have their own police forces and systems of law which permit businesses like casinos etc. which aren't legal in the other states. I'm still fuzzy on other aspects, like how much federal taxes people might have to pay, and whether nonindian residents have to pay local taxes or not - I think they get away without it a lot. Anyway, heterosexuals who move here married from Mexico don't have to remarry.

I think the people who get a marriage certificate anywhere are pretty much set for receiving the 120 legal benefits that marriage bestows, because this will be in court forever, and unless the certificates are stamped with a big red mark, how would insurance companies be able to tell which people to invalidate later on.
by ultra vires
I passed by City Hall today intentionally as I was concluding an errand. It was wonderful to see so many happy people on the steps. I joined the throngs honking, waving, and giving peace signs.

Wish I could have stayed longer. Positive energy and hope is generally lacking from public purview these days.

Newsom has some great political strategists behind him. Hope everything he does makes people happy like this, but I kinda doubt it. He is very conscious of the socioeconomic level of the people he chooses to help.
by David Forbes (davidforbessf [at] hotmail.com)

I just realized that we did not return to update Indybay to say that we got married. David and I were married on February 17th, 2004. Of course this marriage was nullified by the California State Supreme Court less thank 6 months later. We, on the other hand, strengthened our promise to each other through a traditional family and friends wedding celebration on our traditional Anniversary date later in 2004. David and I are still happily married today.

Sorry for the delay in bearing the news as today is November 11th, 2007.
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