Hundreds of gay couples tie knot as Supreme Court ruling takes effect

There was a jitter to his voice and a tremor to his hand, but Adrian Ochoa, 18, plunged into a brave new world of marriage Tuesday, exchanging matrimonial vows on a Sacramento sidewalk with his partner of five months.

It was a leap of faith taken by hundreds, perhaps thousands, of gay and lesbian couples across California. Tuesday was the first full day of same-sex nuptials under a court ruling making California the second state in the nation to allow such unions.

"It's going to last, because it's true love," Ochoa said after the short civil ceremony. "This was so important – it is my civil right." He called same-sex marriage the final barrier to equality.

Ochoa and Orval Miller, 26, wanted the world to witness their midmorning wedding. Clasping hands on the sidewalk outside the county clerk's office, the Sacramento couple were married at the center of an ebullient crowd.

Cheers erupted each time the doors swung open and another newly married couple emerged from the county clerk's office on F Street. In all, 133 couples picked up marriage licenses at the downtown office Tuesday, setting a county record and doubling a typical Valentine's Day.

California's parade of newlyweds gives a glimpse of the diverse families the state's new stance on marriage will engender.

In Yolo County, which got a head start Monday evening by marrying 11 same-sex couples, it seemed every couple at the marriage license counter already had kids in tow.

Laurie Warren, 47, a computer services manager at the University of California, Davis, wedded Seanain Snow, 38, a full-time parent to their son Tanner.

The exuberant 5-year-old got right between his moms as they shared penetrating gazes, vows and a kiss sealing the deal.

The couple met 14 years ago while playing for No Apologies, a soccer team in San Jose. "There's some relief in having the official recognition and some protection for our son," Snow said.

Also getting married in Yolo County on Tuesday was Paul Wolford, a Davis stay-at-home dad who watches daughter Alex, 5, and son Dominic, 3½.

"Being legally married is sort of nice," said Wolford, 44, "but not a must-have event in our lives. But I do think it's important for the kids."

His new spouse, Bay Area attorney Howard Freedland, 45, said the next step is getting federal recognition of their relationship.

It won't come easy, judging from the intensity of opposition to same-sex marriage.

Warnings of damnation

In Sacramento on Tuesday, the dividing line was F Street, the location of the county clerk's office.

On one side was euphoria, amid waving rainbow streamers. On the other, where 40 protesters gathered, there were stern expressions and warnings of damnation.

Opponents of same-sex marriage held placards and shouted Bible verses via a bullhorn. One sign read: "Marriage Still = 1 man + 1 woman!" Another man held up a sign: "Having doubts? Back out." On the back: "It will never work."

Taunts were tossed back and forth across F Street. Gay rights activists shouted "love, love, love." Their opponents responded: "Shame, shame, shame."

While same-sex marriage has become a divisive issue, Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo didn't shy from it.

"People in positions of responsibility are going to be thrust into these kinds of debates," she said after officiating in a marriage of a lesbian couple. "This is a civil rights debate."

Kevin Johnson, Fargo's opponent in the Sacramento mayoral runoff, has said he believes marriage is "between a man and a woman" but says he will uphold the law.

Same-sex weddings were legalized in California last month in a ruling by the state Supreme Court. That ruling, which took effect at 5 p.m. Monday, said the state could not prohibit any consenting adult from marrying, regardless of sexual orientation.

But the battle over gay marriage is far from over. Both sides will campaign hard this summer over a November ballot measure that would amend the state constitution to define marriage as between a woman and a man.

About the writer:

• Call The Bee's Bobby Caina Calvan, (916) 321-1067. Staff writers M.S. Enkoji, in San Francisco, and Denny Walsh, in Sacramento, contributed to this report.