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American Morning
San Francisco Court Will Resume Hearing Into Lawsuit Challenging Same-Sex Marriages
Aired February 20, 2004 - 08:09 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: This afternoon a San Francisco court will resume a hearing into a lawsuit challenging same-sex marriages. San Francisco has been marrying gay and lesbian couples since late last week. Yesterday, the city filed its own lawsuit against the State of California.
David Mattingly has more in northern California.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DENNIS HERRERA, CITY ATTORNEY, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: The City and County of San Francisco is going on offense today.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After a week of defending themselves on the air and in the courts, San Francisco city officials are suing the State of California on constitutional grounds, in hopes of overturning the one man-one woman marriage law.
HERRERA: Discrimination has gone on for much too long. And same-sex couples who want the opportunity to sanctify their relationships and solemnize their relationships are entitled to the same protections under the law as opposite sex couples.
MATTINGLY: The announcement marked the one week anniversary of the first issuance of same-sex marriage licenses in San Francisco. The city still on pace to license marriage for more than 3,000 gay couples by the end of the week. Opponents challenging the legality of the licenses argue the city's latest legal move is just a delay tactic.
MATHEW STAVER, LIBERTY COUNCIL ATTORNEY: The case is very simple -- does a mayor have the authority to violate clearly established law regarding marriage in California? And the answer to that is no.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: George Bush says...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: George Bush is the most disgusting human being on the planet who lied to us about a war...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... one husband and one wife is to make a marriage.
MATTINGLY: As the issue heads back into court, emotions flare at city hall. Ten demonstrators attempted to briefly block the doors of the licensing office. The soon to be newlyweds in line cheered and sang "The Star Spangled Banner" as deputies led them away. David Mattingly, CNN, San Francisco.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Also, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says the same-sex marriage certificates are not legal. In a statement released yesterday, Schwarzenegger says, and quote now, "The attorney general has assured me that he will vigorously defend the constitutionality of the law in the case brought against the state by San Francisco."
Much more on this today out of California.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Challenging Same-Sex Marriages>
Aired February 20, 2004 - 08:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: This afternoon a San Francisco court will resume a hearing into a lawsuit challenging same-sex marriages. San Francisco has been marrying gay and lesbian couples since late last week. Yesterday, the city filed its own lawsuit against the State of California.
David Mattingly has more in northern California.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DENNIS HERRERA, CITY ATTORNEY, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: The City and County of San Francisco is going on offense today.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After a week of defending themselves on the air and in the courts, San Francisco city officials are suing the State of California on constitutional grounds, in hopes of overturning the one man-one woman marriage law.
HERRERA: Discrimination has gone on for much too long. And same-sex couples who want the opportunity to sanctify their relationships and solemnize their relationships are entitled to the same protections under the law as opposite sex couples.
MATTINGLY: The announcement marked the one week anniversary of the first issuance of same-sex marriage licenses in San Francisco. The city still on pace to license marriage for more than 3,000 gay couples by the end of the week. Opponents challenging the legality of the licenses argue the city's latest legal move is just a delay tactic.
MATHEW STAVER, LIBERTY COUNCIL ATTORNEY: The case is very simple -- does a mayor have the authority to violate clearly established law regarding marriage in California? And the answer to that is no.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: George Bush says...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: George Bush is the most disgusting human being on the planet who lied to us about a war...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... one husband and one wife is to make a marriage.
MATTINGLY: As the issue heads back into court, emotions flare at city hall. Ten demonstrators attempted to briefly block the doors of the licensing office. The soon to be newlyweds in line cheered and sang "The Star Spangled Banner" as deputies led them away. David Mattingly, CNN, San Francisco.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Also, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says the same-sex marriage certificates are not legal. In a statement released yesterday, Schwarzenegger says, and quote now, "The attorney general has assured me that he will vigorously defend the constitutionality of the law in the case brought against the state by San Francisco."
Much more on this today out of California.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Challenging Same-Sex Marriages>
