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| California ushers in same-sex weddings | California ushers in same-sex weddings |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| By Rajesh Mirchandani BBC News, Los Angeles The couple's wedding cake featured edible roses and two brides | By Rajesh Mirchandani BBC News, Los Angeles The couple's wedding cake featured edible roses and two brides |
| It was a very public wedding. Robin Tyler and Diane Olson wanted the world to see them become one of the first same-sex couples to get married legally in California. | It was a very public wedding. Robin Tyler and Diane Olson wanted the world to see them become one of the first same-sex couples to get married legally in California. |
| In the end, it was televised live on three local networks, and media outnumbered guests at Beverly Hills City Hall. | In the end, it was televised live on three local networks, and media outnumbered guests at Beverly Hills City Hall. |
| Outside the building, friends and relatives sat on rows of white chairs. | Outside the building, friends and relatives sat on rows of white chairs. |
| A table had been laid with white cloth and was adorned with flowers, glasses of champagne and a three-tiered cake - rather traditional in its design, with white icing and edible red roses. | A table had been laid with white cloth and was adorned with flowers, glasses of champagne and a three-tiered cake - rather traditional in its design, with white icing and edible red roses. |
| At 1701, Ms Tyler and Ms Olson emerged from City Hall to cheers - not yet married, but holding the wedding licences they had just been granted. | At 1701, Ms Tyler and Ms Olson emerged from City Hall to cheers - not yet married, but holding the wedding licences they had just been granted. |
| After years of lodging petitions at this public building, and having them denied, they wanted it to be the venue of their triumph, and the focal point of a very public campaign. | After years of lodging petitions at this public building, and having them denied, they wanted it to be the venue of their triumph, and the focal point of a very public campaign. |
| Both wore white suits and huge smiles. Around them supporters waved rainbow flags and one held a placard saying simply: "Finally." | Both wore white suits and huge smiles. Around them supporters waved rainbow flags and one held a placard saying simply: "Finally." |
| Around them, however, several protesters with banners carrying different slogans such as: "Legalising gay marriage is legalising sin." | Around them, however, several protesters with banners carrying different slogans such as: "Legalising gay marriage is legalising sin." |
| Yet theirs was a silent protest, for the most part. | Yet theirs was a silent protest, for the most part. |
| 'Blasphemy' | 'Blasphemy' |
| This was a traditional Jewish ceremony (in as much as it was traditional at all). The rabbi led the crowd through the service and the blessings. | This was a traditional Jewish ceremony (in as much as it was traditional at all). The rabbi led the crowd through the service and the blessings. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Robin Tyler and Diane Olson exchange vows | Robin Tyler and Diane Olson exchange vows |
| Each time she intoned amen, the crowd repeated. Once, I heard a protester mutter "blasphemy", quietly, almost to himself. | Each time she intoned amen, the crowd repeated. Once, I heard a protester mutter "blasphemy", quietly, almost to himself. |
| At 1726 by my watch, the rabbi said: "By the power vested in me by the state of California... I pronounce you spouses for life!" | At 1726 by my watch, the rabbi said: "By the power vested in me by the state of California... I pronounce you spouses for life!" |
| There were huge cheers and traditional wedding music piped out from the PA system. | There were huge cheers and traditional wedding music piped out from the PA system. |
| The couple looked ecstatic, holding back the tears. | The couple looked ecstatic, holding back the tears. |
| They kissed in front of a bank of TV cameras and were congratulated by their guests and, first of all, by their fearsome lawyer, Gloria Allred, who had worked with them through all their lawsuits. | They kissed in front of a bank of TV cameras and were congratulated by their guests and, first of all, by their fearsome lawyer, Gloria Allred, who had worked with them through all their lawsuits. |
| It was she who had an argument with one of the protesters later, although it seemed to me to be more for the sake of the cameras than a serious showdown. | |
| 'Love is contagious' | 'Love is contagious' |
| As the guests sipped champagne, journalists and photographers thronged the city hall's steps. | As the guests sipped champagne, journalists and photographers thronged the city hall's steps. |
| Next they'll have men marrying goats, marrying their blow-up dolls... once you let down barriers there's no more barriers left John | Next they'll have men marrying goats, marrying their blow-up dolls... once you let down barriers there's no more barriers left John |
| I managed to elbow my way through elegantly-dressed, gorgeously-fragranced women (and some men) to speak to the newlywed Ms Tyler. | I managed to elbow my way through elegantly-dressed, gorgeously-fragranced women (and some men) to speak to the newlywed Ms Tyler. |
| "I feel fabulous," she told me. "I feel in love, I feel giddy, I feel happy. It's like it's not real." | "I feel fabulous," she told me. "I feel in love, I feel giddy, I feel happy. It's like it's not real." |
| Some there would say it is not real. | Some there would say it is not real. |
| One protester, who gave his name as John, said: "Boys do not marry boys, girls do not marry girls, they never have, whatever they want to do, this is not marriage." | One protester, who gave his name as John, said: "Boys do not marry boys, girls do not marry girls, they never have, whatever they want to do, this is not marriage." |
| "Next they'll have men marrying goats, marrying their blow-up dolls... once you let down barriers there's no more barriers left." | "Next they'll have men marrying goats, marrying their blow-up dolls... once you let down barriers there's no more barriers left." |
| Voters will be asked in a referendum whether the ban should be restored | Voters will be asked in a referendum whether the ban should be restored |
| Opponents hope Californian voters will overturn the Supreme Court ruling in November's election, when they may be asked to vote on gay marriage. | Opponents hope Californian voters will overturn the Supreme Court ruling in November's election, when they may be asked to vote on gay marriage. |
| Meanwhile California is gearing up for a busy summer of gay weddings, as many of its resident 80,000-plus same-sex couples take advantage of the law change. | Meanwhile California is gearing up for a busy summer of gay weddings, as many of its resident 80,000-plus same-sex couples take advantage of the law change. |
| In addition, the state is expecting thousands more to come here from other parts of the country - California is the only state now ready to grant wedding licences to couples from different states. | In addition, the state is expecting thousands more to come here from other parts of the country - California is the only state now ready to grant wedding licences to couples from different states. |
| I asked newly-wed Ms Olson how she felt about the protesters and their threats to outlaw her marriage in November. | I asked newly-wed Ms Olson how she felt about the protesters and their threats to outlaw her marriage in November. |
| "Doesn't concern me at all," she told me. "I'm not worried at all... Love is contagious." | "Doesn't concern me at all," she told me. "I'm not worried at all... Love is contagious." |