Tuesday was the first full business day that same-gender couples could legally wed in the state of California. The Supreme Court ruling overturning a ban on same-sex marriages actually took effect Monday at 5:01 p.m.
I was expecting to find bumper-to-bumper congestive gridlock in the parking lot of the Norwalk Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office that morning, but instead was greeted with a smooth operation. The courtyard area was set up with tents filled with people in black robes ready to conduct as many marriages (same gender and otherwise) as time would allow. Brides and grooms in various manner of dress congregated as they waited to receive their marriage licenses. Some planned to be married on the premises; others like Long Beach couple Rick McGilton and David McGlamery scheduled a more formal wedding that evening at the Center in Long Beach. The lines for licenses and wedding ceremonies were quite long but were choreographed in a nearly dance-like fashion. Couples received long-stemmed red roses from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach along with a small bag of birdseed (to be tossed rather than the traditional rice). Together 23 years, Marilyn Omernick and Carol Grosvenor of Los Angeles carrying a peach-colored rose bouquet proclaimed, “It’s all about equality in marriage.” 
Against same-gender marriages, Karen Wilson (a self-proclaimed former lesbian) from Bellflower was on the grounds holding a sign declaring “Marriage is to be held in HONOR.” It is Wilson’s opinion that these California marriages are going to cause the “breakdown of the American Family” and is “one more step in the wrong direction.” It is clear that this topic is one of the most controversial of our times. 
Over the last few days I’ve been trying to understand all of the legalities, or at least some of them, when it comes to this whole gay/lesbian marriage issue. What confuses and concerns me is that I don’t understand what happens to the folks who marry between now and November if the voters decide the ban should be restored. Are they still married? Is it legal in any other state? It is now my understanding that no one really knows what will happen, and as my mother would say – only time will tell.
