Lesbian Couple First to Marry in the United States
Del and phylis 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
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. massachusetts
is the only state currently recognizing gay 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.”
Thereleased the following statement. "the women married today, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, have spent the last 51 years of their lives together. the re 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 "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."
is the only state currently recognizing gay 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.”
Thereleased the following statement. "the women married today, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, have spent the last 51 years of their lives together. the re 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 "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."
Gay Marriage and Children
And then there’s the whole issue of the children. Some argue that children are better off raised in a male-female headed household. Whether there is truth to that argument or not, is not the point. Many couples will marry and not have children: gay and straight. Gay and lesbian couples are having children already without the benefit of marriage. So are single moms, teenagers and drug addicts. Preventing a loving same sex couple from making a legal commitment to each other can only hurt their children. It can send a message, like it did in the case of one Massachusetts couple, that mommy and mommy don’t really love each other, because if they did, they would get married. How do you explain the legal system to a five year old?
Some churches oppose same-sex marriage. Yet some, like the Unitarians and METROPOLITAN GAY CHURCH, bless gay marriages and perform commitment ceremonies. The Episcopalians are debating the issue right now. Whatever they decide does not and should not matter. Separation of church and state is essential to the freedom we enjoy as Americans. It is also the value our Constitution was based upon. Most of the arguments against gay and lesbian marriage are flawed and reactionary. They are reminiscent of the arguments against interracial marriages fifty years ago: that it will harm children, send the wrong moral message and devalue the institution of marriage.
Most Americans, perhaps with the exception a few in white robes, will agree that the ban on interracial marriages is nothing more than prejudice at work. Soon, we will look back at the arguments against same-sex marriages and see, like the ban on interracial marriages, that they are backed by nothing more than bigotry, prejudice and fear
