San Francisco issued 4,037 same-sex marriage licenses

By Lisa Leff
The Associated Press

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SAN FRANCISCO — More than 4,000 same-sex couples obtained marriage licenses in San Francisco before the state Supreme Court shut down the practice, a study released yesterday shows.

Of 4,037 same-sex couples who obtained licenses in the city starting Feb. 12, more than 91 percent came from California, according to a nonscientific analysis by County Assessor Mabel Teng's office.

Washington and Oregon, with 32 licenses each, were the leaders among 45 other states, the analysis shows. Couples from Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and Thailand accounted for the 17 licenses requested by foreigners.

"It confirms to us that California benefited the most from the service we provided," said Teng, who personally officiated at the nuptials of more than 300 couples.

The analysis also found that more lesbians tied the knot than gay men: Of the 4,037 licenses, 2,311, or 57 percent, were granted to women, authorities concluded by reviewing the first names of the applicants.

Eighty-two couples either chose not to go through with their weddings or did not return to City Hall in time to register their licenses, a critical final step, Teng said. That brings the total number of known couples to complete the process to 3,955.

The marriages began after Mayor Gavin Newsom directed his administration to grant licenses to gays and lesbians. The Supreme Court handed down an injunction stopping the practice last Thursday.

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