Open thread: weekend updater and CA marriage day

I like these notices from non big city California, from the reddish areas as it were.  Congrats.

And happybday Autumn.

A Bakersfield woman, Tracy Weddell, is marrying Sylvia Simms, her partner of more than 25 years, on Tuesday.

Tracy is a teacher in Shafter and Silvia is a retired teacher.

Though Tracy is concerned about the big day, she said she's not worried about how her students will react.

"I had a lot of students come up when other students weren't around and said, 'Hey Ms. Weddell, I have your back. You're okay with me.' It was amazing so many kids did that," said Tracy.

Tracy does not talk about her sexuality with her students. They found out in the newspaper.

Tracy and Sylvia were one of hundreds of gay couples who exchanged vows in San Francisco years ago, but they said their status as domestic partners isn't enough.

"It's a big problems when we leave the State of California, we're strangers," said Tracy. "We are political strangers. We are legal strangers. If we go to Ohio where her sister lives we are not able to help each other."

Though the two will soon have the marriage license in their hands, they know things could soon change.

"What hangs out your head is the ballot initiative in November," said Silvia. "It's like a dagger in your heart when you know your friends and the people you love have voted against you having the same rights as they have."

No matter how this battle ends, Tracy and Silvia's future is already set in stone.

"It is forever, no matter what the courts say," said Tracy.

The Bakersfield Police Department said officers will be standing by Tuesday as protesters are expected to rally outside the County Clerk's Office.

Historic Same-sex weddings begin in Alameda County

By Angela Hill  06/16/2008 04:04:26 PM PDT

Staff Writer Angela Hill is at the Alameda County clerk's office in downtown Oakland, following the activity as the first same-sex marriage licenses are issued and wedding ceremonies are performed.
3:30 p.m. - The Media Frenzy Begins
Even before the couples began to arrive, satellite trucks from various media outlets queued up along the curb outside the county clerk's office building on Madison and 11th Street in downtown Oakland. TV cameras were poised in the second-floor "wedding room" of the clerk's office.
Kevin Hing, chief clerk of the recorder's office, breaking free from an interview with one reporter, graciously turned to another. "We're trying to make sure everyone is served properly today," he said.
Hing said, because the county only took appointments for ceremonies, he has no idea how many couples will arrive tonight to apply for licenses. "Calls have been coming in every five minutes since this morning," he said.
Twenty-two ceremonies are scheduled for this evening, beginning after 5 p.m. Hing also expects numerous walk-ins all evening. The office will be open late until 8 p.m.