Same-sex couples
across California exchanged vows and wedding bands on
the first weekend since the state began allowing gays and
lesbians to legally marry.
The city of West
Hollywood, a staunch advocate of marriage rights for
gays and lesbians, hosted a daylong marriage marathon
Saturday, when about 100 same-sex couples planned to
wed in ceremonies officiated by council members and
administrators.
Accompanied by
camera-toting clusters of relatives and friends, couples
traded vows under white trellises trimmed with red roses
inside curtained cabanas in West Hollywood Park.
Among them were
Nancy Vasquez and Sandy Perron, partners of 16 years, who
got their marriage license at West Hollywood City Hall on
Tuesday and returned Saturday for the ceremony.
''This is just
the icing on the cake,'' said Perron, a 45 year-old human
resources assistant from Gardena. ''It's something we've
been waiting for.''
California became
the only U.S. state besides Massachusetts to allow gay
couples to marry on Monday, one month after the state
supreme court overturned a voter-approved ban on
same-sex marriage.
But the wedding
spree could be short-lived if voters approve a November
ballot initiative that would reverse the May 15 court ruling
and amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage.
For Susan and
River Mika Coyote of Incline Village, Nev., getting married
at the Sacramento gay pride festival was a statement about
human rights, as well as their personal commitment.
The couple held a ceremony five years ago, legally
combined their names and bank accounts, and bought a
home together.
River, 38, said
she hopes hundreds of gay marriages in coming months will
help dissuade voters from supporting a constitutional ban on
the November ballot.
''It's easy when
people think of gay people as 'those people,''' she
said. ''If you check that box you're taking away the
marriage of River and Susie -- it's not 'those
people.' We're normal people who want to take care of
each other.''
The gay wedding
boom has been good for business. Tom Rosa, owner of the
Cake and Art bakery in West Hollywood, said business has
tripled in the past week, and on one day he did as
many consultations as he usually does in a month.
Rainbow-colored
cakes are popular, but some couples are wild for a
silver-studded all black cake, said Rosa, who baked four
cakes for same-sex couples marrying at West Hollywood
Park.
Many couples
waited until Saturday to get married so they could share the
day with family and friends and not be part of the media
hoopla and protests that surrounded ceremonies earlier
in the week.
''We didn't want
that to take away from our occasion. It means a lot to
us,'' said Pat Melchor of Downey, who married her partner of
11 years, the new Mrs. Cheryl Melchor, who was
clutching a bouquet of white roses as they posed for
photos.
West Hollywood
councilman John Heilman, who was deputized by the county
deputy commissioner of civil marriages to officiate weddings
in June, said the day was proving emotional,
especially for couples who had been together for many
years.
''Everyone's
crying,'' he said. ''People are bringing their family and
friends. That's what been nicer about today.'' (Christina
Hoag, AP)
