 SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - It has been four years since Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered San Francisco city clerks to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples.
Gay and lesbian couples are using Valentine's Day 2008 to call attention to the issue.
8 same sex couples asked for and were denied marriage licenses Thursday at San Francisco City Hall. "We're here to render visible the discrimination that happens to all gay couples every time we ask for a marriage license," explained one man. "We were given a license four years ago and we were so excited. Six months later, it was voided."
There was no surprise when the license requests were denied. Nonetheless, one couple had brought a bouquet of flowers for the clerk.
The California Supreme Court has scheduled a March 4, 2008 hearing on a consolidated case challenging the marriage restriction.
San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting believes he will, one day, be legally allowed to issue licenses again. "When that day is here, I know our office, I know everyone in City Hall will welcome every single one of those couples back with open arms, and we can't wait for that day to happen."
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KCBS' Margie Shafer reports from SF City Hall
