In San Diego, Numbers Tell the Story

San Diego County marriages by the numbers:

Marriage-license appointments for June 17 (includes same-sex and opposite sex unions): 206

Total appointments for marriage licenses through Oct. 31: 930 (most are for gay and lesbian couples)

Daily average number of marriage licenses, 2000-May 2008: 97

And, though most cities saw far smaller numbers of protesters than happy couples, late this morning about 25 activists gathered at the San Diego County Administration building late Tuesday morning to bash the California Supreme Court judges who made same-sex marriage legal.

"We wish all the best to everyone here today, but the question on the table is one of basic democracy," said Brian Brown, executive director of the National Organization of Marriage. He spoke to a crowd that could barely hear him against the roar of downtown traffic and the comments from hecklers,  and because there was no system set up to amplify the voices of speakers.

"This is not motivated out of animus or bigotry," Brown said, adding that "there's something special about the union of a husband and wife."

The speakers stood uncovered in 80-degree heat in front of the 1930s-era art-deco building's eastern façade, which is emblazoned with the words "Good government demands the intelligent interest of every citizen."

Cops looked on from under a shady tree as a woman in a car drove by and yelled something that sounded like "Idiot!"

A pair of men made mock Nazi salutes to one of the speakers, and one scoffed at the complaint that a single judge made the difference in the California Supreme Court's decision.

"One judge elected George W. Bush. Does that bother you?" he asked. "I don't think so."

Another man with two dogs stood behind the speakers at the press conference and declared, "I have a right to get married."

The opponents of same-sex marriage, who were racially mixed but mostly white, carried signs saying "God Loves You Not the Sin" and "We Are Praying to Protect Marriage."

One woman carried a sign with a scrawled drawing of a wedding ring, an equal sign and the symbols for man and woman. (Randy Dotinga, The Advocate)

For more marriage coverage, go to Advocate.com.

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