San Francisco swamped by gay wedding requests
SAN FRANCISCO Demand for same-sex marriage licenses has been so great that on Sunday officials turned away hundreds of gay and lesbian couples lined up outside City Hall, saying they simply didn’t have the time or resources to meet all the requests.
San Francisco authorities calculated they could process 400 licenses during special weekend hours–but on Saturday they granted 600 licenses and performed 270 weddings by late afternoon. Then officials gave numbers to 320 couples securing them places in line for Sunday.
After quickly distributing another 80 numbers Sunday morning, disappointed couples lined up around the block were asked to return Monday.
“We’re at capacity right now,” said Mabel Teng, the official who oversees marriage licenses for city government. “We normally do about 20 to 30 couples a day. We’re doing about 50 to 60 an hour.”
Many couples stayed in line despite instructions from city officials, hoping to receive numbers for Monday.
“It’s a major disappointment,” said Jill Kasofsky, 40, who had lined up with spouse-to-be Cynthia Juno, 45, at 8:15 a.m. after driving from Los Angeles. “I’m thinking about coming back at midnight to sleep on the sidewalk. I’m sure I won’t be alone.”
In a controversial challenge to both legal and social convention, San Francisco officials began issuing same-sex licenses and officiating City Hall marriages Thursday.
The decision prompted two conservative groups to press for court intervention. But on Friday, a judge allowed the weddings to continue through the weekend. The issue returns to court Tuesday.
