A same-sex 'I do' in Kings

Anna Guerrero and Wendi Hurst, exultant over their newly legal rights, showed up at the Kings County clerk's office at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning waiting for the doors to open.

At 8 a.m., they were the first same-sex couple in Kings County to get a marriage license. And though the couple had 90 days to formalize their union, they wasted no time.

By 7 p.m., Guerrero and Hurst of Hanford uttered the words "I do" and slipped wedding rings onto each other's fingers, partaking in the legal ritual long denied them and being among the first same-sex couples in Kings County to wed in their hometown.

After five years together, nothing is sweeter than exchanging marriage vows in their hometown for Guerrero, 23, and Hurst, 22. For them the marriage was a symbol of their enduring love.

"We've been waiting for it for a long time," Hurst said. "(Wednesday), I'm turning my certificate in so I can get my name changed before they can recall it."

Guerrero arrived at Tuesday night's wedding ceremony -- held in the courtyard of a central Hanford apartment complex where the couple live -- wearing a black tuxedo while Hurst donned a pink dress, as family members and friends looked on.

Guerrero said she was relieved. "There's been a lot of frustrations," she said, then flashed a triumphant smile as she added "Today I'm excited. I thought this day would never come."

The Kings County Assessor Clerk-Recorder's Office saw a trickle of same-sex couples Tuesday, as all 58 California counties began issuing marriage licenses that designate "party A" and "party B" instead of "bride" and "groom." A total of four couples -- three from Hanford and one from Lemoore -- got their marriage licenses.

Same-sex marriages became legal as of 5:01 p.m. Monday by order of the state Supreme Court. The landmark ruling last month said denying gay and lesbian couples the right to marry each other in a civil ceremony violated the state constitution, making California one of just two states, along with Massachusetts, that allow same-sex marriages.

A few Bay Area counties opened late Monday to accommodate same-sex couples, but Kings County, along with most counties, waited until Tuesday to start issuing the licenses.

As hundreds of same-sex couples rushed to wed throughout California Tuesday, local Christian church ministers reaffirmed their opposition to same-sex marriage.

"We believe the Bible, and it says marriage is the foundation of human society. Since God created mankind and the gift of marriage, we ought to follow his guidelines," said Pastor Gene Pensiero with Calvary Chapel of Hanford. "The real issue is who is in charge. If you believe God is in charge, then you have to follow his guidelines. Marriage isn't a state issue. It's a spiritual issue."

A similar reaction was offered by Pastor Michael Vernava with First Lutheran Church in Hanford, who also cited the Bible.

"We have to go by what the scripture says -- marriage is between a man and a woman. That ensures future generations. It provides the best environment for children," Vernava said. "It's popular thinking (to support same-sex marriages), but it's a human idea. There's a lot of emotions attached to it. But we must go beyond the emotions and use our brains.

"What I believe is guided by the Bible; it's really based on faith and reason," Vernava said.

After the first day of legal gay marriage was over, Kings County Clerk Ken Baird didn't expect the kind of rush of same-sex marriage licenses seen in larger cities for Kings County. But things like this are sometimes hard to foresee, he said.

"We weren't as busy as normal today," Baird said at day's end. "We only issued six licenses today. Normally, we would issue between eight and 10. So it's not a situation where a lot of people are bashing through the gates here.

"But you never know. We might suddenly get swamped tomorrow," he said.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429.

(June 18, 2008)