Hundreds from the lesbian, gay, bi and trans communities, along with supporters, assembled at San Francisco City Hall as same-sex marriages began on Monday, June 16. In a spirit of celebration and resistance, people cheered same-sex couples as they emerged from City Hall and jeered homophobic bigots from the Rev. Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church.
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Dozens more marriages took place in San Francisco that evening, as well as in cities around the Bay Area.
Despite the presence of a small handful of bigots opposed to same-sex marriage, the scene at City Hall was joyful. Many in the crowd verbally challenged the bigots, who held signs featuring hate slogans such as “Homo sex is a threat to national security” and “Homo sex is a sin.” The crowd easily drowned out the bigots’ inane rantings with bullhorns.
Members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation attended with signs proclaiming “Victory! Equality for All.” At one point, a newlywed couple emerged from City Hall, grabbed one of the signs and held it aloft to the cheers of the crowd.
Same-sex marriages in California still face a challenge from a November ballot referendum with a proposed change to the state Constitution. However, an appeals court denied a stay to the weddings pending the outcome of the November referendum. A fierce struggle must be waged to ensure that the recent gains are not rolled back.