San Francisco, CA— Today at San Francisco’s City Hall, more than 200 couples will be married by City officials and volunteer Deputy Marriage Commissioners over the course of the day as part of the City’s annual tradition celebrating marriage equality and Pride weekend in San Francisco.
Mayor London N. Breed, City Administrator Carmen Chu, and County Clerk Diane Rea made the announcement today as San Francisco prepares to welcome thousands of onlookers at Sunday's Pride Parade and other celebrations throughout the weekend, including the return of Pride laser beams that will project 20 rainbow color lasers from the Ferry Building up Market Street and over Twin Peaks.
This year’s theme for SF Pride is “Beacon of Love.”
“Throughout June, San Franciscans and people from around the world celebrate Pride Month in our City, and 20 years after the "Winter of Love," our pride has never been stronger," said Mayor London Breed. "You see it every day in this City – the reminders are everywhere, whether it's a shop window, pride and trans flags proudly flown at schools and homes, with rainbow crosswalks. Yes, San Francisco is a beacon of love, but also hope. Right now, all across this country our LGBTQ+ community is under assault, with their basic rights being threatened, and we stand strong in support of this incredible community. Today is about celebrating the love that bonds individuals together and serves as the heart of the work we have ahead of us here in this City and across the nation.”
“Today and throughout Pride Month, we uplift and celebrate the joy and beauty of the LGBTQ+ community. We also recognize the long hard-fought road to marriage equality and continued fight for equal rights around the country and abroad. As we welcome over 200 couples from all over the world to get married at City Hall, we are reminded of our responsibility to make sure San Francisco continues to be an inclusive and safe place for people of all genders and sexualities,” said City Administrator Carmen Chu. “I want to thank County Clerk Diane Rea and her staff, the City Hall Building Management team, and each of our Deputy Marriage Commissioners for their work to celebrate each and every couple getting married today.”
In 2017, under the leadership of then County Clerk Catherine Stefani, the Office of the County Clerk began making additional marriage appointments available on the Friday before SF Pride, during which people from all over the world come to San Francisco to participate in many events dedicated to celebrating the City’s diversity and commitment to the LGBTQ+ community.
“It warms my heart to see the tradition I began with the amazing staff of the County Clerk’s Office continue each year. This event is a testament to San Francisco’s enduring commitment to recognizing everyone’s right to marry who they love,” Supervisor Catherine Stefani. “Today, we honor these beautiful couples and reaffirm our dedication to fighting for true equality for all.”
On a typical day, the Office of the County Clerk officiates 28 marriages at City Hall. Most of these weddings are officiated by volunteer deputy marriage commissioners, who are trained and deputized by the County Clerk to marry couples in City Hall. Now in its 32nd year, the County Clerk’s Deputy Marriage Commissioner Program includes volunteers who have served for nearly 30 years.
“The San Francisco County Clerk’s Office has had a long history in the City’s fight for marriage equality. We are proud to continue the tradition of welcoming hundreds of couples to get married at City Hall during Pride,” said County Clerk Diane Rea. “Today’s 200+ weddings represent only a fraction of the over 7,000 City Hall weddings made possible each year by the hardworking staff of the County Clerk’s Office and our volunteer Deputy Marriage Commissioners.”
City officials, including Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, City Administrator Carmen Chu, Treasurer Jose Cisneros, Assessor-Recorder Joaquin Torres, and Director of Human Resources Carol Isen joined Deputy Marriage Commissioners from the Office of the County Clerk to help couples tie the knot.
"One of the beautiful things about working in San Francisco City Hall is getting to witness all the happy couples saying their vows under the rotunda, and in every alcove and hallway. Sometimes it feels like we work in a wedding factory,” said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. “Given the role this building and the people who have worked here played in the decades-long fight for marriage equality, it is a special treat for me as a gay man to help out with the Pride Friday marriage ceremonies. It’s always a great way to kick off Pride, and especially in this twentieth anniversary year of the Winter of Love marriages!"
“The journey towards marriage equality began here in San Francisco with a bold act of defiance that culminated in the Supreme Court declaring marriage a constitutional right,” said Treasurer José Cisneros. “With a resurgence a of discrimination and hate targeting the LGBT community, we must continue to stand as an example of hope and equality for every individual, regardless of who they love.”
“City Hall today is filled with joy, seeing hundreds of couples express their commitment to each other—reminding us that San Francisco is a place of hope, sanctuary and celebration in a world where the rights, safety and livelihoods of our LGBTQIA+ communities are threatened. It’s an honor to lead an office that every day continues this legacy and helps couples start the next chapter of their lives together,” said Assessor-Recorder Joaquín Torres. “From the Pink Triangle to the Castro, the Transgender District, City Hall, our small businesses, cultural institutions and across our neighborhoods, during this month our history of leadership and advocacy comes to life as we collectively renew our commitment to being a beacon of love for all. Happy PRIDE, San Francisco!”
"I am proud that the City and County of San Francisco continues to be at the forefront of the fight for LGBTQ rights and marriage equality," said Human Resources Director, Carol Isen. “We believe in fostering workplaces where every individual, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, feels valued and respected. Marriage equality isn't just a legal milestone; it's a testament to our commitment to equality and diversity, creating a stronger, more supportive environment for all employees."
As we celebrate Pride, we must remember the times when it wasn’t as easy to marry the person you loved. With this year marking the 20th anniversary of the ‘Winter of Love,’ we honor the history-making leadership of then-Mayor Gavin Newsom, whose bold decision to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples marked a pivotal moment in the struggle for LGBTQ+ equality,” Supervisor Matt Dorsey. “It was the honor of my career to serve on the executive staff of the first public sector law office in American history ever to sue a state to strike down discriminatory marriage laws, and we also honor the lawyering and leadership of then-City Attorney Dennis Herrera and his team for a nine-year legal battle that secured marriage equality in California, and set the stage for LGBTQ+ marriage equality nationwide.”
“As a kid, there was no space to imagine ever being married while growing up in 1980s Michigan. It was an impossible idea for my husband who grew up under martial law in Taiwan. Yet we met in San Francisco in the 2000s and were married here the year when the U.S. Supreme Court allowed same-sex marriage nationwide,” Supervisor Joel Engardio. “You could say miracles happen, but I was able to marry my husband because of all the work San Francisco did to change hearts and minds and push the legal case for marriage equality. We should all be proud of San Francisco as we celebrate LGBTQ pride and continue the work to ensure every kid today can imagine a future that realizes their dreams.”
In February this year, San Francisco celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Winter of Love, the historic milestone in 2004 when, then Mayor Gavin Newsom directed City officials to begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses. Between February 12 and March 11, 2004, San Francisco issued over 4,000 marriage licenses to same-sex couples, who lined the block of City Hall to get married.
While the California Supreme Court ordered San Francisco to halt the marriages on March 11, 2004, Newsom’s directive and the Winter of Love propelled the City’s legal fight for marriage equality, led by then City Attorney Dennis Herrera.
San Francisco was allowed to legally resume issuing same-sex marriage licenses in June 2013, and, in the days that followed, the offices of the County Clerk and the Assessor-Recorder stayed open throughout the weekend to swiftly accommodate the demand for couples waiting to get married.
“First, we fell in love with each other, and then San Francisco. Thank God it loved us back,” said Alex Mendez and John Spangler, who wed Friday morning in City Hall. “San Francisco is the only city in the world where we could get married with all the dignity and respect that we deserve. The city is just as excited about our wedding as we are!”
"Mika and I wanted to get married at City Hall on this day because it felt like the ultimate way to celebrate Pride,” said Laura Keegan and Mikayla Brown. “We feel so fortunate to live in a place where queer love is not only accepted but celebrated. We love this city and are so excited to start the next chapter of our lives here.”
“San Francisco has long been a place of diversity in people, culture and ideas. It’s what drew us and thousands to San Francisco and to each other,” said Paul Cooksey and Patrick Dougherty, who got married in City Hall on Friday. “And as an interracial couple, to celebrate and share in this diversity has been an important of our lives and a main reason for having our wedding during San Francisco Pride.”
San Francisco City Hall is a National Historic Landmark frequently visited by tourists and photographers and remains a popular venue for high-profile events, hosting some of the most consequential events in San Francisco’s history. Just this month, City Hall was named “Best Wedding Venue” in SFGate’s 2024 Best of the Bay Area list.
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