First of California's same-sex marriage licenses to be issued today
At 5:01 p.m., at least two dozen gay couples in several counties will be allowed to partake in the legal ritual. The first couple in L.A. County to marry will be Robin Tyler and Diane Olson.
Across California, at 5:01p.m. today, same-sex marriage will become legal by order of the California Supreme Court, and exultant gay couples will race to be first to partake of a legal ritual long denied to them.
Although county offices are typically closed by 5 p.m., the registrars and clerks who issue marriage licenses in several counties -- Los Angeles, San Francisco, Alameda, Sonoma and Yolo -- have decided to remain open to allow at least two dozen same-sex couples the distinction of being among the first wave to wed.
The first couple in Los Angeles County to marry will be Robin Tyler, 66, and Diane Olson, 54, who on Valentine's Day 2004 were denied a marriage license at the Beverly Hills Courthouse and challenged that rejection all the way to the California Supreme Court. Their license, to be issued in Beverly Hills, was given an exception "in recognition of their unique role in the court's decision," said acting Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean C. Logan.
Roman Catholic bishops: An article about gay marriage in Tuesday's Section A reported that L.A. Cardinal Roger Mahony and seven other Southern California Roman Catholic bishops reaffirmed their opposition to same-sex marriage. In addition to Mahony, six bishops serve the Los Angeles Archdiocese.
In Sonoma County, 10 couples will receive their licenses tonight and in Yolo County, nine same-sex ceremonies will take place at the recorder's office.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony and other local bishops reaffirmed their belief today that marriage should only be the joining of a man and a woman.
Marriage "has a unique place in God's creation, joining a man and a woman in a committed relationship in order to nurture and support the new life for which marriage is intended," said the bishops in a statement released today. "The meaning of marriage is deeply rooted in history and culture, and has been shaped considerably by Christian tradition. Its meaning is given, not constructed."
The statement was signed by Mahony as well as Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Curry, Santa Barbara Pastoral Region; Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala, San Gabriel Pastoral Region; Auxiliary Bishop Gerald Wilkerson, San Fernando Pastoral Region; Auxiliary Bishop Edward Wm. Clark, Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region; Auxiliary Bishop Alexander Salazar, San Pedro Pastoral Region; and Auxiliary Bishop Oscar A. Solis, Vicar for the Office of Ethnic Ministry.
carla.hall@latimes.com
john.glionna@latimes.com
