CLGS

During the 2009 Earl Lectures and Leadership Conference at Pacific School of Religion, CLGS was pleased to host a luncheon and welcomed the Rev. Rebecca Voelkel as the speaker. Rev. Voelkel, ...

Del Martin, 82, and Phyllis Lyon, 79, married in San Francisco's City Hall on February 12, 2004. They became the first same-sex couple in the United States to have their marriage recognized legally by a government agency. They may also be the first to be divorced if the courageous decision by Mayor Gavin Newsom to grant marriage licenses to two partners of any gender constellation, rather than to a man and a woman, is overturned by the courts.

The Rev. Rosa Lee Harden found herself quite unexpectedly caught up on the recent marriage license frenzy in San Francisco. Here are her reflections on the usual frustrations and the unexpected joys of being an agent of the state when it comes to weddings.

If you think that there is strict separation between church and state in this country we live in, you might want to check in with a clergy person who functions in a congregation composed mostly of gay folks and their straight friends.

On this President's Day I find myself in deep reflection, laughing, crying, cleaning the house as I often do when there is so much to feel. As you can imagine it has been a week to remember here in San Francisco.

Dana and I, only together as a couple for four years, have met dozens of gay and lesbian couples over the last week who have been together in committed relationships for ten, twenty, and thirty years. On Sunday afternoon we went to a joint celebration in San Francisco held for Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon in honor of their fifty-one year relationship and to honor the hundreds of couples who have received marriage licenses over the last few days. There were more than 2000 people in attendance, all dressed in wedding finery for a wedding reception that was long overdue.

Jerene and I got an unexpected Valentine's Day present this evening. We received a phone call from longtime friends Moya Watson and Leanne Waldal. Moya was on our staff at Dolores Street Community Services in San Francisco back in the late 80s. Among many of her talents, she was a computer guru who led our nonprofit (and church) into the computer age. We have remained good friends ever since.

As her wedding day approaches every bride is filled with happiness and excitement and wants to share it with the world and I'm no different than anyone on the cusp of their wedding. I'm in love with Dana and I want to shout it to everyone who can hear and write it across the sky for those who can't! I love her and she loves me and God is doing an amazing thing in our lives!