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June 26, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels February 26, 2004 Part of the crowd in San Fran By Steve Zimmerman Ashland Daily Tidings "We were a strong couple before," Julie said over lunch, with her partner Danielle. "We have been in an eight-year monogamous relationship. But everything changed when we got married. We feel differently and our relationship is stronger and more passionate." The Rogue Valley couple (who requested their last names not be used) were married on Feb. 15, one of over 700 couples married that day at City Hall in San Francisco. Surrounded by reporters and many couples (right) wanting to be married, a city clerk announced on Feb. 15, that 770 couples had married that day. Since Feb. 12, when San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom issued the order to allow gay couples to marry, more than 3,000 same-sex couples have tied the knot at city hall. Newsom said he was just avoiding violating the equal protection clause of the California Constitution when he issued the order. For Julie, 36, and Danielle, 37, it was a roller-coaster ride of emotions once they decided to make the nearly six-hour drive to San Francisco. "We heard about it on the news Wednesday (Feb. 12)," Julie said. "The next day, when I got home from work, Danielle ran into the bedroom and got the rings we had and got down on her knees and proposed. I didn't know what she was doing." The couple, who both work in professional positions, knew they could not take off work Friday. But they knew there was a sense of urgency as the order could have been overturned in court at any time. So, with the blessing of their employers, who gave them Monday and Tuesday off, and Julie's daughters and their boyfriends who helped with hotel reservations, the couple left on Saturday, arriving at midnight. They stayed in a hotel in Oakland and drove to city hall at 4 a.m. Sunday morning. When they finally arrived at city hall, they were in line with scores of others. Early in the morning, an official came out and said the 350 couples with tickets from Saturday were going to be married first. He then said only 80 of the couples in the new line would be married and the rest should go home. Not knowing what number they were, Julie and Danielle waited. They would soon find out the line stopped four couples ahead of them. They were crushed. "I was crying so hard," Julie said. "When we got there in the morning, we were couple number 20 and now it looked like we weren't going to get married." Later, another official came out later and told the group Julie and Danielle were in that they had a one percent chance of getting married. Others behind them had zero chance. At 3 p.m., the one percent group was told they would indeed be married on Sunday and at 5:10 p.m., Julie and Danielle were officially pronounced spouses for life. It was a glorious feeling that still has not ended. "When we came out of city hall, there were people cheering and throwing rice," Danielle said. "They were sharing the moment with us and it was great celebrating our day with that many people." The couple went to a hotel on Fisherman's Wharf for their honeymoon. When they told the desk clerk they had just been married, they were given a suite overlooking the ocean. It was the perfect end to a perfect day. Both Danielle and Julie had been married to men earlier in their lives. Julie's was a 15-year marriage, while Danielle's only lasted two years. When both decided to start new relationships, they were headed in distinctly different directions. "I knew in elementary school I was attracted to girls," Danielle said. "I was a tomboy and had crushes on my female teachers. When I got divorced, my plan was to be with a woman." "After my divorce, I dated one guy and then met Danielle," Julie explained. "Before I met her, I never thought I would be with a woman. It was not in my plan. But we have been together for eight years." Julie's two daughters are very comfortable with their two moms. Her oldest daughter gave her the best piece of advice she has received. "When I told her about our relationship, she said, 'Mom, love knows no sex.'" The future of their union is uncertain as a court could rule the marriage invalid. But both Julie and Danielle, who are registered with Ashland's Domestic Partner Registry, say the piece of paper they received after their marriage is inconsequential. "I am holding the same license that my ex-husband and I held when we were married," Julie noted. "We did this because we love each other and it gives recognition to our relationship," she added. "We even did a ceremony in front of the kids. But going to San Francisco to get married finalized it for us. If it lasts for just one more day, that is fine." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams