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Same-Sex Couples Flock to San Francisco City Hall

Aired February 16, 2004 - 15:00   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.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour with the hottest ticket in town. That town being San Francisco, and the ticket being a license to get married. Most couples assume it's up to them whether and when to make their unions official. For gay couples, though, San Francisco is providing what may be a very narrow window of opportunity.
CNN's Miguel Marquez is in the middle of the wedded and soon-to- be wedded. They're on the steps of City Hall.

Hello, Miguel.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How are you there, Miles?

It is a very interesting scene out here. I walked around the building a short time ago to kind of gauge how long this line was. Ran into a guy who's counting for the city all the people back here. Ran into him halfway through. He was at 350 people, and the line literally was halfway more to go.

About 700 people standing in line altogether out here. Most of them getting married. Many just friends and family. But this is where sort of the beginning of the end is right here at the hall of -- City Hall here, where they go in this side. It's kind of a marriage factory at this point.

They come out the other side, the other door here to cheering fans and rice being thrown and flower petals and the like. It's taken on a bit of a political demonstration almost.

And I'm here with two young men who were here last night around 7:00 Pacific Time, Eric Oliver (ph) and James Carter (ph) from Mobile, Alabama.

Is it done?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's done. Here's our certificate right here.

MARQUEZ: What does it feel like to be holding on to this thing?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, you know, I never would have believed it. I can't describe it in words. It feels wonderful.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's awesome.

MARQUEZ: James, what was the ceremony like? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We went up in the rotunda at the very top. It was a beautiful backdrop and background. We had a couple of our friends with us that witnessed it, as we did with theirs.

And it was just awesome. I mean, it was the best feeling that you could ever have possible.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He actually had a couple of tears coming down his cheeks.

MARQUEZ: What are your friends in Mobile, Alabama, your family, what are they going to think?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, I think the ones that are truly close to us and truly care the most about us are going to be real happy for us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A true friend is the one who will be happy and the one who will care for and accept us.

MARQUEZ: And where is the honeymoon?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here.

MARQUEZ: Right in San Francisco. Thank you very much. Good luck to you guys.

Miles, there are two injunction hearings scheduled so far tomorrow, as far as we can tell. What I understand, it's fairly similar language in both those injunction requests. And the first one will happen at 11:00 Pacific Time. That's the point where the judge could void all of these marriages that have occurred and stop the city from granting more.

It's not clear what the second one would do. But the city is saying that they will continue granting marriage licenses until that judge rules -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Miguel, have you had a chance to ask some of the happily married couples if they'll be there tomorrow for the court event?

MARQUEZ: A lot of them will be at the court event tomorrow. But, I mean, there are so many people, they're going to be still lining up here tomorrow, as well, if they want to get married. So I think there's going to be a lot of interest everywhere.

I mean, just being in the city now for several days, the place seems to be abuzz with gay marriage. It's bringing in people from all over the country. So I'm sure it's going to be a packed house in the courtroom tomorrow. Plus it's not too far from where I'm standing -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: All right. Should be interesting. Miguel Marquez in San Francisco.

Thank you very much.

MARQUEZ: Sure.

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 16, 2004 - 15:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour with the hottest ticket in town. That town being San Francisco, and the ticket being a license to get married. Most couples assume it's up to them whether and when to make their unions official. For gay couples, though, San Francisco is providing what may be a very narrow window of opportunity.
CNN's Miguel Marquez is in the middle of the wedded and soon-to- be wedded. They're on the steps of City Hall.

Hello, Miguel.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How are you there, Miles?

It is a very interesting scene out here. I walked around the building a short time ago to kind of gauge how long this line was. Ran into a guy who's counting for the city all the people back here. Ran into him halfway through. He was at 350 people, and the line literally was halfway more to go.

About 700 people standing in line altogether out here. Most of them getting married. Many just friends and family. But this is where sort of the beginning of the end is right here at the hall of -- City Hall here, where they go in this side. It's kind of a marriage factory at this point.

They come out the other side, the other door here to cheering fans and rice being thrown and flower petals and the like. It's taken on a bit of a political demonstration almost.

And I'm here with two young men who were here last night around 7:00 Pacific Time, Eric Oliver (ph) and James Carter (ph) from Mobile, Alabama.

Is it done?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's done. Here's our certificate right here.

MARQUEZ: What does it feel like to be holding on to this thing?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, you know, I never would have believed it. I can't describe it in words. It feels wonderful.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's awesome.

MARQUEZ: James, what was the ceremony like? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We went up in the rotunda at the very top. It was a beautiful backdrop and background. We had a couple of our friends with us that witnessed it, as we did with theirs.

And it was just awesome. I mean, it was the best feeling that you could ever have possible.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He actually had a couple of tears coming down his cheeks.

MARQUEZ: What are your friends in Mobile, Alabama, your family, what are they going to think?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, I think the ones that are truly close to us and truly care the most about us are going to be real happy for us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A true friend is the one who will be happy and the one who will care for and accept us.

MARQUEZ: And where is the honeymoon?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here.

MARQUEZ: Right in San Francisco. Thank you very much. Good luck to you guys.

Miles, there are two injunction hearings scheduled so far tomorrow, as far as we can tell. What I understand, it's fairly similar language in both those injunction requests. And the first one will happen at 11:00 Pacific Time. That's the point where the judge could void all of these marriages that have occurred and stop the city from granting more.

It's not clear what the second one would do. But the city is saying that they will continue granting marriage licenses until that judge rules -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Miguel, have you had a chance to ask some of the happily married couples if they'll be there tomorrow for the court event?

MARQUEZ: A lot of them will be at the court event tomorrow. But, I mean, there are so many people, they're going to be still lining up here tomorrow, as well, if they want to get married. So I think there's going to be a lot of interest everywhere.

I mean, just being in the city now for several days, the place seems to be abuzz with gay marriage. It's bringing in people from all over the country. So I'm sure it's going to be a packed house in the courtroom tomorrow. Plus it's not too far from where I'm standing -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: All right. Should be interesting. Miguel Marquez in San Francisco.

Thank you very much.

MARQUEZ: Sure.

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