Prop. 8 plaintiffs and Berkeley couple Kris Perry and Sandy Stier were married this afternoon by Attorney General Kamala Harris at San Francisco City Hall. The wedding took place at around 4:30 pm, shortly after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a stay on the 2010 lower-court ruling that would clear the way for same-sex marriages, to begin immediately throughout California.
Perry and Stier were at the head of the line that formed at San Francisco City Hall to obtain marriage licenses and Harris rushed to City Hall to perform the first marriage. According to media, including KQED News and the Los Angeles Times, the couple were the first same-sex marriage in California since 2008.
At the event, Harris said: “Kristin Perry and Sandra Stier, I now declare you spouses for life.” Once they were married, Perry exclaimed: “It was worth the wait!”
Perry and Stier filed a legal challenge to Prop. 8. when they sued to overturn the state’s voter-approved gay marriage ban along with Jeff Katami and Paul Zarrillo, of Burbank, who planned to marry Friday evening at Los Angeles City Hall. The Berkeley couple first tried to marry in 2004 when then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom began issuing licenses. They are the parents of four boys.
Shortly after the Supreme Court released its ruling on Prop. 8 on Wednesday, President Obama called the couple, who had been waiting at the court for the ruling, to congratulate them.
The Attorney General was tweeting her excitement about the event right up until the ceremony (@KamalaHarris) “On my way to S.F. City Hall. Let the wedding bells ring! #Prop8,” she posted at 3:35 pm. The couple emerged onto the Mayor’s balcony to cheers and applause from crowds of well-wishers and the media.
At 5:02 pm, Brett Brownell, a multimedia producer at Mother Jones magazine, tweeted: “Not a dry eye in the house.”
According to media reports, San Francisco City hall will stay open til 8 p.m. tonight, and be open 9-5 Saturday and Sunday for couples to obtain marriage licenses.
Alameda County also declared today that is was ready to marry same-sex couples.
This story was updated as the story developed.
Related:
Obama lauds Berkeley couple who fought Prop. 8 and won (06.26.13)
Rainbow flag marks Supreme Court cases (03.26.13)
Berkeley couple at heart of Prop 8 case speak out (08.05.10)
Berkeley couple at center of same-sex marriage trial (01.11.10)
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