SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2004 (VALENTINES DAY): BRYAN SYKES & DIEGO ZURBRIGGEN (IL)LEGALLY WED IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
In an act of love and civil disobedience, Diego and I got hitched on Valentines Day. There was no bachelor's party, reception, gift registry, ring from Cartier, and so on because time was of the essence. We want to share the event that changed our marital status and the country's social and legal history. On a warm and sunny day, Diego and I arrived to the court house to find hundreds of couples in line to get married.
As we waited six hours to get married, we met plenty of nice couples and their children. Some of them have been together for as long as fifteen years.
By the fifth hour, we were near the steps of city hall. Sarah Staveteig took many pictures of us.
As we reached the steps of the City Hall, we didn't see any protesters; however, there were plenty of happy couples and positive support. We were even blessed by two women from a church.
Once we were inside City Hall, it was a race against time. The clerk's office was going to close soon, so volunteers began passing out alphanumeric tickets to display when people should return on Sunday. As we waited and waited and waited, couples behind us were leaving the office. That's when I inquired as to the status of our license only to find out that the clerk's office LOST our marriage application!!!! We were down to the minutes, and it felt like we were contestants on The Amazing Race because people were employing cutthroat and shady tactics to ensure that they would be married on Valentines Day. Ultimately they found it, granted the license, and we were off to have the ceremony.
At the end of the day, we officially obtained our (il)legal marriage certificate.
In the next few days, the legal battle will be forged at this court house.
It is highly likely that an injunction will be granted, but Diego and I did manage to get married in this limited window of time. Hopefully in the future, everyone (heterosexuals & homosexuals) will be able to get married without having to worry about time constraints and injunctions. Until that day comes, we'll have this certificate and these photos to show that our union helped pioneer American History.
There are many people we would like to thank:
Mayor Newsom for having the balls to do what should be done everywhere!!!!
Deputy Marriage Commissioner Donna Louise Medley for performing the ceremony.
The volunteers who gave up their Valentine's Day weekend to marry thousands of couples.
Sarah Staveteig for being our flower woman, photographer, and witness (talk about multi-tasking).
The Donut Princess, from Happy Donuts, for supplying tasty--and FREE!!!--wedding donuts.
Family and friends who supported our decision to elope.
The people of San Francisco who drove by honking and yelling and cheering as we waited in line to get married.
