Wedding Equality

Bob Lehman and Tom Felkner, June 17, 2008

San Diego, California

This was the first same-sex couple to be legally married in San Diego after marriage equality went into effect in California. (The freedom to marry was later taken away by the infamous Proposition 8). Lehman is a former Marine.

Bruce Cohen and Gabriel Catone, June 23, 2008

Los Angeles, California

Cohen is a film and television producer, known especially for the film, American Beauty. He and his partner were married in city hall with Mayor Antonio Villarigosa officiating. Their marriage, and all other same-sex marriages in California, was legally nullified by Proposition 8 later that year.

Tyler Barrick and Spencer Jones, Sept. 5, 2009

Russian River Valley, California

Both Barrick and Jones were raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The story of their wedding and their struggles with LDS church policy were featured in the documentary film 8: The Mormon Proposition. The film tells about the Mormon church’s involvement in the voter initiative that amended California’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage in November 2008. 

(Source: youtube.com)

Diane Olson and Robin Tyler, June 16, 2008

Beverly Hills, California

Olson and Tyler, who sued the state of California for the right to marry, were the first same-sex couple in the state to marry when it became legal in 2008 (although same-sex marriage was banned by voters later that year). Their wedding attracted a great deal of media attention.