Print friendly
E-mail story
Tip Us Off
iPod friendly
Comments
Bookmark This
del.icio.us.
Digg!
furl
google
newsvine
reddit
technorati
Facebook
Yahoo!History in Santa Barbara: Same-sex marriage arrived quietly at the County Courthouse today with hugs, flowers, and children.
Sue De Lapa
Two women and their babies.
Cindy and Janice Eyanson of Santa Barbara, with a 23-year relationship and two kids, were among the first same-gender couples to emerge with marriage licenses the first morning that the county began issuing them.
As the courthouse tower clock bonged out eight times, the heavy County Hall of Records doors swung open to a new era. A couple dozen or so couples, mostly in their 40s and a few with children, were ushered in and sat down to file their applications by computer.
It was a low-key scene. The staff politely issued the licenses, and as the couples emerged from the ornate tiled office, where the morning sun shone on the historic event, some members of the local clergy applauded and handed out roses.
Sue De Lapa
Couples fill out applications.
The first to get licenses were Bonnie Beedles, 45, and Frann Wageneck, 42, both of whom grew up here. “We actually got married eight years ago in a ceremony at the Unitarian Church,” Bonnie said. “This is kind of a formality. For us, we’ve already been married in our hearts.”
Monday, June 16, at 5 p.m. was the first time same-sex couples could be legally married in California, but Santa Barbara County began issuing them at 8 a.m. today, Tuesday. After the first group of couples was issued licenses, things quieted down by 9 a.m.
But no wedding ceremonies could yet be conducted at the clerk's office because of the longstanding lack of space, officials explained. After equipment is cleared from an upstairs room, the plan is to create a wedding chapel there, in a year or so, they said.
Cindy Eyanson said that after about 20 years together, she and Janet decided to have children. Janet gave birth to Mackenzie, now three, and Cameron, 11 months, by artificial insemination. The same donor was involved both times, making the girls biological sisters.
Sue De Lapa
Making it official.
“It’s a historic day and a historic year,” said Jim McClure, assistant county recorder and clerk, referring to both same-sex marriage and the fact that the county staff will be handling the November election, when for the first time an African-American, Barack Obama, is expected to be on the ballot as a major-party candidate for president. “We like historic things.”
“What a trip,” one woman told a man who was awaiting a license to wed his male partner. “I’m tellin’ ya,” he replied happily.
Outside, a group of the local clergy extended their best wishes. They were the Rev. Teena Grant, Unitarian Universalist; the Rev. Joy Atkinson, Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara; the Rev. Mark Asman, Trinity Episcopal Church; the Rev. Erika Hewitt, Live Oak Unitarian Universalist congregation; the Rev. Laura Mancuso, interfaith minister and chaplain; the Rev. Melitta Haslund, Unitarian Universalist minister; and the Rev. Terri Cooper, nondenominational interfaith officiant. “I support love,” Cooper said.
Sue De Lapa
Protesting Same-Sex Marriage: Kevin Ott and Stacey Eymann
Sitting on the steps in protest of same-sex marriage were Kevin Ott, 27, and Stacey Eymann, 29, of the Jubilee Christian Church, a non-denominational congregation. They were dressed in black and Ott strummed a guitar as they sang softly, a Bible beside them.
The four California Supreme Court justices who voted to legalize same-sex marriage were wrong, Ott said. “God set up marriage the way He did,” between a man and a woman.
Related Links
Barney Brantingham can be reached at barney@independent.com or (805) 965-5205. He writes online columns and a print column on Thursdays.
Previous Month
Comments
Discussion Guidelines
Post a comment