Five years ago today, my partner and I stood in line for hours at SF City Hall, waiting patiently to get our marriage license. I've chronicled how the day felt in this post, so right now I'll just say "Wow! Just like straight couples, we can look back at our wedding photos and marvel at how young and thin we were!"
In all seriousness, I got major tears in my eyes today remembering not just us, but all those hundreds of couples who stood out in the rain all weekend long. The marriages had started on Thurs Feb. 12 but had really picked up speed on Fri Feb. 13. That's the day we begged off early from work and rushed in to SF on BART. It could be our only chance, we thought -- City Hall will be closed for the long weekend and who knows what would happen by Tuesday.
But City Hall wasn't closed for the long weekend. Gavin Newsom and his staff kept it open. The line of eager loving couples stretched around the entire building. People set up tents; well-wishers sent flowers from all over; family members and friends arrived to join impromptu wedding parties.
This was meaningful to me then, for sure, but talking about it in the presence of my 4 1/4 year old daughter today made me realize how proud I am to have been part of this historic event. It really was something, all those folks willing to stand in freezing rain for hours for the right to do something many straight people take for granted. My daughter didn't really understand what we were talking about today -- we honestly don't want her to know yet that our marriage is considered odd (and worse) by so many people -- but I know that by the time we reach ten years after our SF City Hall wedding, and...er....12 years after our commitment ceremony, and...er....5 years after our wedding this past fall...See how hard it can be to remember all these many anniversaries?
Anyway, by the time she is 10 or so, she will understand how significant this all was and (I can only hope), be proud of the role her dear old fat moms played.