Sacramento gay couples rush to tie knot before Prop. 8 vote

By Jennifer Garza
jgarza@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008 | Page 1A

Gay couples – fearing the passage of Proposition 8 next week – are filling up county clerks' schedules with marriage ceremonies to say "I do" before the electorate possibly says they can't.

Elaine and Lisa, Robert and Randy, and Michelle and Tara were just a few of the dozens of couples who headed to the Sacramento County clerk/recorder's office Wednesday to exchange vows under a flowered archway in front of family and friends.

All said they wanted to get married before Tuesday, when voters decide the fate of Proposition 8 – the ballot measure which, if passed, will ban same-sex marriage in California.

Recent polls show that voters are evenly divided over the ballot measure, which is one of the most closely watched races in the country.

"The polls are so close, we didn't want to miss this opportunity," said Elaine Hoffman of Sacramento, who was marrying her partner of nearly 22 years, Lisa Berg. "This is something we've wanted to do for a long time."

The California Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriages legal in May; weddings began in June. County clerk officials say they have seen a marked increase in the number of marriages as the election nears.

"We're about double what we usually see this time of year," said Wanda Dark, assistant county clerk-recorder for Sacramento County. The clerk's office will issue 54 licenses and conduct 30 ceremonies today.

Nearly all of the appointments through Monday are booked, but officials will accept walk-ins.

"On the day after the election, that number falls back down to about 14, which is around what we normally do," Dark said.

An estimated 17,000 same-sex couples will have married in California by the time Tuesday's vote takes place, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA law school.

"There were a lot in the beginning, but we're also hearing about a lot now," said Gary Gates, a demographer with the institute.

Some clerk officials, such as San Francisco, anticipated the demand and extended their hours. "We thought there would be a rush and there is," said Kenton Owyang, deputy county clerk of San Francisco.

Some county clerk offices, such as El Dorado County's, have not seen an increase. In Placer County, "there has been a small increase over this time last year," said Gloria Coots, assistant county clerk.

In Sacramento, couples are taking whatever times are available. Michelle Callejas said she never thought she'd marry Tara Garrett, her partner of 11 years "at 2:20 on a Wednesday afternoon."

Garrett said the couple are not political but felt they had to marry while they could. "It's something we wanted to do, but with Prop. 8 we definitely felt the pressure," said Callejas. "And we are happy that we can do it."

Yes on 8 supporters said they had unsuccessfully tried to have the Supreme Court delay same-sex marriages until after the election.

"To the extent that there is a quandary or dilemma is the court's own making," said Chip White, press secretary for Yes on 8.

Robert Clemons and Randy Beach have been thinking about getting married for a while. Beach said Proposition 8 forced them to act now.

"We wanted to hold out as long as we could, but the polls are too close," said Beach, shortly before their wedding ceremony.

The couple called the county clerk's office a day earlier and were lucky to get an appointment. The only time available was at 10 a.m. "It was so last minute, a lot of our family couldn't make it." The two plan to hold a bigger celebration in the spring.

Hoffman and Berg, the couple who have been together 22 years, were surrounded by loved ones Wednesday. The two women brought many to tears – and laughter – when they exchanged vows and talked about their relationship.

"If my mother were here today, she would say this is … different," said Lisa Berg. "But she'd be very happy I found someone to love and to love me."