Liveblogging Gay Marriage Day: Updates From the Front

(Apologies for repeating that pic of the Phelps kid, but the sign is just *so* funny we couldn’t help ourselves.)

– Last night in front of San Francisco City Hall there was a large gathering of people supporting the first ceremony performed for the aforementioned elder lesbians. Apparently, a guitar-playing man in leather collapsed at one point, was presumed dead, and was shouted over by the dozen or so Phelpses “God killed him for loving fags!” Sweet, right? Anyway, turns out he wasn’t dead.  Ha ha. Fags rule. (Bilerico Project, via Queerty)

-Someone sent in this i-report to CNN from the Yolo County offices, and if you listen past the part with the lone pathetic protester, you can hear someone say, amusingly, “I don’t see any guy couples getting married.”

-Hey wait, there are gay men marrying in Yolo County, and they’re rodeo gays!

-Here is our video of the morning:

9:27 AM – Outside City Hall, and no sign of Shirley or any other Phelpses. 92.7 giving out Champale (sparkling cider) and some Unitarians are giving out cupcakes to couples as they come out. Pics to come!

10:00 AM – OK. There’s no line outside like there was on Valentine’s Day 2004, and apparently all the gays looking for licenses have made appointments so there’s no clamoring whatsoever. We may return later to see if the crowd outside grows.

10:20 AM – So, it turns out the Phelpses had a few bases to cover while here in SF, and rather than waste their time on the clearly lost cause of gay marriage, they switched tactics and are currently outside the Chinese Consulate General at 1450 Laguna Street, because of course: God Hates China too.

11:16 AM – It’s a lovely morning in downtown SF, remarkably free of any picket signs with butt-fucking stick figures. While we prepare you some video footage, please enjoy these pics of the scene on the steps of City Hall, where a Franciscan monk was there to show his support but insisted he did not need anyone to support him in marriage because he has a previous commitment to God. Also, everyone’s favorite schizophrenic sign-holder, Frank Chu, was on hand with his non-sequitor signage; a hot fellow in a tie tending the sparkling cider bar for 92.7; the wholesome Unitarians with their cupcakes; a series of well dressed couples emerging from the doors to many cheers; and some weird little ceremonial tent set-up on the plaza that looks like some marriage profiteering pioneers.

11:29 AM – Just saw this… TheAdvocate.com posted this little narration from Air America radio personality Harrison, who’s been roaming around Bakersfield and trying to take on Kern County Clerk/Harridan Ann Barnett, who remains a holdout in this whole gay marriage thing.  We actually doubt there’s more than 2 gays in Kern County, but for those who do live there, our deepest apologies.

Also, the Advocate has this whole marriage-related blog with the Gawker-esque name ‘Vowser,’ where they’ve got dispatches coming from around the state.

11:42 AM – We hope everyone, including the recently wed, are appreciating our mixtape. It took us, like, all afternoon yesterday to compile that shit.

12:34 PM – Just grabbed this funny sidebar that Paul Rudnick wrote for the print version of the The Advocate.

12:38 PM – SFGate has put up their gallery of marriage photos; the LA Times has their own; and here’s one from the Sacramento Bee.

12:43 PM – Meanwhile, the Berkeley Daily Planet (and there are plenty of cohabitating fags and lezes in Berkeley, believe us) has so far only managed to post this story about tree-sitters on the Berkeley campus.

12:57 PM – Oh, right: Berkeley gays have to go to Oakland to the Alameda County offices to get married. But we’re sure the Daily Planet has got to post something. They’re more liberal than liberal. They barely advocate clothing. Anyway, here’s the Oakland Tribune story.

1:02 PM – Heh. Defamer’s Seth Abramovitch put up this post quoting the LA GLBT Center’s spokeswoman who was warning couples not to dress all crazy for their ceremonies, as photos from today could be used by the enemy in trying to get that constitutional amendment passed in November.

2:13 PM – The NYT has thrown up some more photos and a new headline.  Huh.  Somehow “Hundreds of Gay Couples Wed In California” doesn’t quite have the dramatic ring to it we were expecting. Really? Only “hundreds.” We call for a recount.

2:51 PM – We’re a little late on this but a former Marine and his partner were the first to be wed in San Diego County this morning at 7AM.

2:57 PM – No shit! They’re broadcasting wedding ceremonies live at mydesert.com, a site based in Palm Springs. Leave it to those rich queens to fund this bandwidth.  Apparently there’s a party at The Parker tonight for the 21 newly wedded Coachella Valley couples.

3:01 PM – Oh, wait. Even though that site says that’s a live stream, they’re still saying “this morning” in the broadcast and it’s 3PM, so that looks to be a rerun of a live stream, not actually a live stream.

5:00 PM – This sign is flapping in the wind at Castro and Market in San Fran.

6:55PM – Things still happening on the steps of City Hall but quieting, and this guy on the right’s blowing on his trumpet (flugel horn?) every time a couple comes out. Also, 92.7’s still there, but the DJs are looking pretty bored.

7:20 PM – Okay, we’re done. Happy married life everyone! And we look forward to all you out-of-staters descending for Pride. (Please provide your own flugel horn.)
 

RELATED:
Songs for the Marrieds: A Sword Mixtape in Honor of Gay Marriage Day in CA

Same-Sex Marriages Begin in California (NYT)
Protesters Crash Lesbian Wedding (CNN)
Profiles of Gay Marrieds (365gay.com)
Vowser: Everything Marriage (Advocate.com)
Radio Personality Harrison Takes On Kern County (Advocate.com)
Happy Gay Marriage Day Everyone! (Try Not to Act Too Fruity) (Defamer)
Hundreds of Gay Couples Wed in California (NYT)