On March 25, the night before the United States Supreme Court convened to hear the challenges to the Federal Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8, California's voter-approved gay-marriage ban, thousands of LGBT people marched down Market Street in San Francisco, the city where it all began.
"Tomorrow is the beginning of the end for Proposition 8 and DOMA," said San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener. The openly gay member of the City's Board of Supervisors participated in the march. Mr. Wiener represents the City's District 8, which includes the primarily gay Castro District. His predecessors in that seat include the late Harvey Milk.
The door to marriage equality was opened in 2004, when then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who is not gay, began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Though local courts later ruled that Newsom lacked the authority to take such an action, the floodgates were opened. Prop 8, sponsored primarily by the Mormon Church, was narrowly passed by California voters in 2008. It has since been ruled unconstitutional by California Judge Vaughn Walker. Recent polls indicate that if Proposition 8 were put before the voters today, it would be defeated by a wide margin. Polls further indicate a growing acceptance of marriage equality nationwide, with more than 50 percent of those polled saying they support same-sex marriage.
It's now believed that the Supreme Court may invalidate both Proposition 8 and DOMA, although a number of other scenarios regarding the court's final decision are also possible, according to pundits on CNN and MSNBC.
The mood in San Francisco was joyous and upbeat on March 25. Local celebrities marched side by side with same-sex couples, some of whom had young children in tow.
"My family rocks!" said 11-year-old Eddie Franks. "I have love from two different women and they both rock!"
For Donna Sachet, a prominent San Francisco drag performer and columnist, the rise of marriage equality was expected. "While some continue to say that the progress the LGBT community has made has been unbelievable, I don't find it unbelievable at all," Sachet told Windy City Times. "What I do find unbelievable is that in 1996, the United States Congress passed a law defining marriage as between one man and one woman. I find it unbelievable that in 2008, the State of California passed a law defining marriage in the same way. I find it unbelievable that we continue to debate an issue that poll after poll indicates is no longer a problem for the majority of Americans."
As the crowd marched downtown towards City Hall, onlookers cheered. At City Hall, the joyous crowd was introduced to 12 year old Daniel Martinez, who expressed gratitude to the two dads who adopted him. Martinez had posted a message to the Supreme Court on You Tube. He read his message to the crowd. "I know you have a tough decision to make", he said. "But my family is just as valuable as yours."
The following day, the first day of the Supreme Court hearings, a vigil was held in front of the San Francisco Federal Building.
Speakers included Rev. Roland Stringfellow, an African-American pastor who works with the Pacific School of Religion. "People might wonder why clergy and people of color are here," he said. "Don't clergy and people of color oppose marriage equality? I represent over 250 congregations who welcome LGBT people and their families. May this be a time of reconciliation."
Scott Coatsworth and Mark Guzman, a gay couple who drove in from out of town to attend the vigil, noted the absence of the opposition. "I think the GOP is realizing that it's a lost cause," said Guzman.
"They're putting their efforts elsewhere," said Coatworth. "They're going to be someone else's pain in the ass."
At the vigil's conclusion, couples kissed and strangers embraced. Photos by Danny Buskirk