Vindication For Newsom

Posted on May 18, 2008
Filed Under Gay News Blog

Mayor Newsom’s Statement Regarding California State Supreme Court Ruling on Same Sex Marriage Read the statement…

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom had barely been on the job a month back in 2004 when he ordered the city to issue marriages licenses to gay and lesbian couples.

Thousands of same-sex partners flocked to City Hall to exchange vows. For four weeks, a steady stream of ceremonies stretched into the night, and lines of eager couples wrapped around the block.

And as quickly as the couples could say, “I do,” the scene of women marrying women and men marrying men sparked a nationwide uproar. Proponents called the move bold. Opponents called it defiant and blatantly illegal. People on both sides said Newsom had single-handedly cost Democrats the White House.

But after more than 4,000 same-sex marriage licenses (which ultimately were ruled invalid) and four years, the Republican majority on California’s Supreme Court handed Newsom his vindication.

“As California goes,” Newsom told hundreds of cheering supporters, “so goes the nation.”

For a time, even he was convinced he’d be on the losing end.

The mayor’s sources who claimed to have early knowledge of the ruling assured him Thursday morning that the judicial decision he had waited years for would go against same-sex marriage.

“I had absolute confirmation that listed the names of the judges that were for and against it,” Newsom said.

City Attorney Dennis Herrera, whose office led the courtroom charge to legalize same-sex marriage after Newsom’s decision to grant the marriage licenses, had a defeat speech written and ready to give.

“Everybody likes to read tea leaves … I was just hearing this volume of stuff from people saying you’re not going to win,” Herrera said.

But when jubilant cheers erupted from the state Supreme Court building across the street from City Hall, Newsom’s victory was confirmed.

Hundreds of same-sex couples gathered under the dome in San Francisco City Hall to celebrate. Some carried their children on their shoulders. Others marched straight to the county clerk’s office and made wedding ceremony appointments. There were so many cheering supporters inside City Hall that people were standing in far reaches near the rafters.

“My God,” Newsom said as he looked around at the crowd.

“This is now bigger than San Francisco,” he told them.

It has been a long fight for both politicians.

Vindication For Newsom