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CNN Live At Daybreak

Same-Sex Marriage Legal Showdown

Aired February 17, 2004 - 06:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Gays and lesbians in San Francisco are still rushing to say their "I do's" before the city says you can't. Two groups opposed to same-sex marriage head to court today, hoping to stop the city from issuing any more marriage licenses to gay couples, but the city is sticking to its guns.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DENNIS J. HERRERA, SAN FRANCISCO CITY ATTORNEY: I think we've made some very, very strong arguments, and I'm hopeful that the court will be persuaded that there is no reason to stop the issuing of the licenses now, and that the city will be able to move forward and continue to issue licenses and ensure that people have their rights protected.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The city estimates 750 people were married yesterday in San Francisco. That's more than in a typical month.

CNN's Miguel Marquez has more on this unprecedented gay marriage spree.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Part festival, part political protest, part legal struggle. Couple after same-sex couple showing their state of California marriage licenses to the world as they descended City Hall stairs.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If I can get a marriage license, I would do anything. So, we stayed out all night. All of these people stayed out all night -- rain, wind.

MARQUEZ (on camera): Tiara.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tiara. All the way.

MARQUEZ (voice-over): Last Thursday, the city of San Francisco started granting marriage licenses to gays and lesbians. Why the line? Why the rush to the alter? Groups opposed to gay marriage are asking two judges to stop immediately the city from granting the licenses and void those that have already been granted.

RICH CHAPIN, NEWLYWED: We'll fight. We'll go...

RICK TUSCANY, NEWLYWED: Along with everybody else. CHAPIN: We'll fight, and we'll keep it as valid as we can.

TUSCANY: And as far as...

CHAPIN: And if it takes...

TUSCANY: Yes, as far as I'm concerned, it's valid.

MARQUEZ: Rick Tuscany and Rich Chapin waited all night. Their 12-year-old son now shares their new name.

(on camera): And your last name is now what?

CODY TUSCANY-CHAPIN, NEWLYWEDS' SON: Cody Tuscany-Chapin. I have two.

MARQUEZ (voice-over): But as the celebration continued, the legal battle neared. Two groups say same-sex marriage is illegal because of a 2000 voter proposition which legally defined marriage as only between a man and a woman. The city of San Francisco argues the proposition is illegal under California's constitution.

PETER RAGONE, CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO: We're going to continue issuing marriage licenses until a court tells us to stop.

CHRIS DIETRICH, MOM'S GETTING MARRIED: It has to happen. I mean, we have to have a little bit more of a progressive attitude in this country, and I'm so glad to be living in a place where it's actually finally happening.

MARQUEZ: Chris Dietrich and his sister are witnessing the marriage of their soon-to-be two moms.

MICHELE DIETRICH, MOM'S GETTING MARRIED: Our moms are getting married today, and our whole family is here -- my mom's ex-husband, our dad.

MARQUEZ (on camera): City Hall officials say over 2,000 marriage licenses have already been granted, but two injunction hearings right across the street will decide whether all of that will stop.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, San Francisco.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.






Aired February 17, 2004 - 06:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Gays and lesbians in San Francisco are still rushing to say their "I do's" before the city says you can't. Two groups opposed to same-sex marriage head to court today, hoping to stop the city from issuing any more marriage licenses to gay couples, but the city is sticking to its guns.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DENNIS J. HERRERA, SAN FRANCISCO CITY ATTORNEY: I think we've made some very, very strong arguments, and I'm hopeful that the court will be persuaded that there is no reason to stop the issuing of the licenses now, and that the city will be able to move forward and continue to issue licenses and ensure that people have their rights protected.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The city estimates 750 people were married yesterday in San Francisco. That's more than in a typical month.

CNN's Miguel Marquez has more on this unprecedented gay marriage spree.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Part festival, part political protest, part legal struggle. Couple after same-sex couple showing their state of California marriage licenses to the world as they descended City Hall stairs.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If I can get a marriage license, I would do anything. So, we stayed out all night. All of these people stayed out all night -- rain, wind.

MARQUEZ (on camera): Tiara.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tiara. All the way.

MARQUEZ (voice-over): Last Thursday, the city of San Francisco started granting marriage licenses to gays and lesbians. Why the line? Why the rush to the alter? Groups opposed to gay marriage are asking two judges to stop immediately the city from granting the licenses and void those that have already been granted.

RICH CHAPIN, NEWLYWED: We'll fight. We'll go...

RICK TUSCANY, NEWLYWED: Along with everybody else. CHAPIN: We'll fight, and we'll keep it as valid as we can.

TUSCANY: And as far as...

CHAPIN: And if it takes...

TUSCANY: Yes, as far as I'm concerned, it's valid.

MARQUEZ: Rick Tuscany and Rich Chapin waited all night. Their 12-year-old son now shares their new name.

(on camera): And your last name is now what?

CODY TUSCANY-CHAPIN, NEWLYWEDS' SON: Cody Tuscany-Chapin. I have two.

MARQUEZ (voice-over): But as the celebration continued, the legal battle neared. Two groups say same-sex marriage is illegal because of a 2000 voter proposition which legally defined marriage as only between a man and a woman. The city of San Francisco argues the proposition is illegal under California's constitution.

PETER RAGONE, CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO: We're going to continue issuing marriage licenses until a court tells us to stop.

CHRIS DIETRICH, MOM'S GETTING MARRIED: It has to happen. I mean, we have to have a little bit more of a progressive attitude in this country, and I'm so glad to be living in a place where it's actually finally happening.

MARQUEZ: Chris Dietrich and his sister are witnessing the marriage of their soon-to-be two moms.

MICHELE DIETRICH, MOM'S GETTING MARRIED: Our moms are getting married today, and our whole family is here -- my mom's ex-husband, our dad.

MARQUEZ (on camera): City Hall officials say over 2,000 marriage licenses have already been granted, but two injunction hearings right across the street will decide whether all of that will stop.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, San Francisco.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.