US: First weddings take place as same-sex marriages allowed to resume in California
As pride events are kicking off all around the world, the US state of California has resumed issuing marriage licences to same-sex couples, following a Supreme Court ruling this week.
The plaintiffs in the case challenging California’s former state-wide ban on equal marriage, have become the first to get married in the state, as the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday gave the green light for same-sex weddings to resume.
Kristin Perry and Sandra Stier, were married at San Francisco’s City Hall on Friday, conducted by the Californian Attorney General Kamala Harris.
Harris said: “I know declare you spouses for life”. Harris prior to the ceremony said: “I could not be more honoured to stand here today and joint he two of them in marriage”.
The ceremony came only hours after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco lifted its stay, allowing same-sex weddings to resume.
Perry and Stier were the plaintiffs in the case brought to the Supreme Court, challenging Prop 8. Supporters of the measure to ban equal marriage have vowed to pursue efforts to have the ban, which was supported by 52% of Californians in 2008, reenforced.
