Court halts gay marriage events in San Francisco

Friday, March 12, 2004

SAN FRANCISCO -- The California Supreme Court ordered an immediate halt to same-sex weddings in San Francisco on Thursday as Massachusetts lawmakers gave preliminary approval to a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages in the only state where they have been ruled legal. Teary-eyed couples were quickly turned away at San Francisco's city hall, where 4,161 gay couples have tied the knot in the last month. On the other side of the country, Massachusetts legislators returned to the Capitol to consider a constitutional amendment that would strip gay couples of their court-granted right to marriage but allow civil unions. The amendment won approval during two preliminary votes, but its final passage is far from certain.

To continue reading
For more than 115 years, the Southeast Missourian has written the first draft of local history. We have aspired to enrich, entertain, educate and inform. Our core values have remained firm: truth, service, quality, integrity and community. Support our mission.