Lesbian Couple First to Marry in the United States
Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, who have been a couple for more than 50 years were the first same-sex couple to be legally married in the United States on February 12, 2004.
In a challenge to the state?s marriage laws, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered the county clerks to begin issuing marriage certificates to same sex couples, stating that California?s Constitution prohibits discrimination. It is not certain at this point, if these marriages will be recognized outside of San Francisco.
California law states that only marriage between a man and a woman shall be recognized.
In acts of solidarity and as part of National Freedom to Marry Week, many gay and lesbian couples around the country went to their own courthouses on February 12th to request marriage licenses. All were rejected. But more than 150 couples were issued licenses in San Francisco. Couples began lining up at 4am to get in on this historic action.
At the time, Massachusetts was the only state currently recognizing gay marriages.
Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon have been active in the lesbian community for more than five decades. Ironically, Lyon, was originally opposed to marriage of any kind. As a feminist in the 1970s, her feelings were that marriage kept women from achieving their true potential. She now thinks the issue of marriage is important to the gay and lesbian movement. ?We are fairly well united behind this because it?s being fought against so hard by the other side,? Lyon told the New York Times. ?If we let them beat us down on this one, it will be a long time before we make other advances.?
The Human Rights Campaign released the following statement. "The women married today, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, have spent the last 51 years of their lives together. There is absolutely no good reason for a couple so loving and so committed to each other to be denied the right to marry and the thousands of protections that come with it," said HRC President Cheryl Jacques. "Today?s historic step will result only in making families ? like Del and Phyllis ? stronger. Nobody?s marriage will be harmed by providing more security to them. In fact, the historic step taken today will result in increased protections of many families, which will make America stronger."
Read more about Del and Phyllis.
Update on Massachusetts
In a challenge to the state?s marriage laws, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered the county clerks to begin issuing marriage certificates to same sex couples, stating that California?s Constitution prohibits discrimination. It is not certain at this point, if these marriages will be recognized outside of San Francisco.
California law states that only marriage between a man and a woman shall be recognized.
In acts of solidarity and as part of National Freedom to Marry Week, many gay and lesbian couples around the country went to their own courthouses on February 12th to request marriage licenses. All were rejected. But more than 150 couples were issued licenses in San Francisco. Couples began lining up at 4am to get in on this historic action.
At the time, Massachusetts was the only state currently recognizing gay marriages.
Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon have been active in the lesbian community for more than five decades. Ironically, Lyon, was originally opposed to marriage of any kind. As a feminist in the 1970s, her feelings were that marriage kept women from achieving their true potential. She now thinks the issue of marriage is important to the gay and lesbian movement. ?We are fairly well united behind this because it?s being fought against so hard by the other side,? Lyon told the New York Times. ?If we let them beat us down on this one, it will be a long time before we make other advances.?
The Human Rights Campaign released the following statement. "The women married today, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, have spent the last 51 years of their lives together. There is absolutely no good reason for a couple so loving and so committed to each other to be denied the right to marry and the thousands of protections that come with it," said HRC President Cheryl Jacques. "Today?s historic step will result only in making families ? like Del and Phyllis ? stronger. Nobody?s marriage will be harmed by providing more security to them. In fact, the historic step taken today will result in increased protections of many families, which will make America stronger."
Read more about Del and Phyllis.
Update on Massachusetts
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