Gay couples rush to tie the knot in California
22nd October 2008
A controversial proposition, that could outlaw same sex marriages in California, has led to an influx of gay weddings in the state, as couples fear they are running out of time to tie the knot.
Hundreds of same sex couples are rushing to marry before November 4 to avoid the possible effects of Proposition 8.
The California Attorney General said marriages performed before Election Day will still be valid, even if the proposition passes.
The rush to wed is overwhelming San Francisco's City Hall, which expanded its wedding hours to try and accommodate hundreds of requests for marriage licenses.
Long time couple Bartholomew Casimir and Edward Rulief Kelley exchanged vows and rings on Tuesday, admitting they were catching they were catching their "window of opportunity just in case".
Organisers on both sides of the debate held rallies on Tuesday.
Recent polls show California voters are nearly equally divided for and against Proposition 8 which would change the California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry.
Voters will decide the measure on November 4.
Since same-sex marriage became legal in California in mid-June, at least 11,000 couples have exchanged vows statewide, according to the Williams Institute for Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy, based at UCLA.
Source: 3 News