SAN JOSE — Thanks to recent court decisions, the annual San Jose Pride festival had something new to celebrate in its 38th year: Weddings.
The Rev. John Rodgers of the First Century Evangelistic Group presided over two same-sex weddings Saturday at a “matrimonial grove” set up in a corner of the festival grounds at San Jose’s Discovery Meadow Park.
“This is one major milestone,” Rodgers said.
It was only five years ago that California voters approved Proposition 8, voiding a judicial decision that had allowed same-sex couples to marry.
But opponents sued to overturn the initiative, leading to a momentous June decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled that the ballot measure’s sponsors lacked legal standing to defend it.
That left in place a federal judge’s 2010 ruling that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional, clearing the way for same-sex marriages to resume in California. The state Supreme Court last week declined to allow Proposition 8 sponsors to continue their legal fight against gay marriage.
Even before that, the cultural tide already seemed to be shifting in favor of allowing same-sex marriage. Many gay and lesbian couples sensed it was only a matter of time before they could legally wed.
Cathy Good and Patty San Bartolome, of Redwood City, tied the knot in a private ceremony last year.
“But it wasn’t legal,” said Good, 50. “We’re excited that now it’s going to be legal. We’re going to have the same rights as everyone else.”
San Bartolome added: “It was really exciting going and getting the license.”
Good and San Bartolome, 47, met four years ago at a Redwood City bowling alley.
Saturday’s ceremony at San Jose Pride was supposed to be a simple, civil affair, but a dozen friends and family members helped commemorate the occasion.
The couple celebrated in the style of the national pastime in their San Francisco Giants jerseys. Good wore a white Marco Scutaro jersey, and San Bartolome an orange Buster Posey jersey. Their friends and family erupted in cheers after they exchanged rings, kissed and walked hand-in-hand down the aisle.
“I’m just glad to be straight-up supportive and to teach my daughter tolerance,” said Good’s friend Erin O’Connell, whose 7-year-old daughter also attended the wedding.
Complementing the matrimonial grove was a wedding exposition featuring local caterers, jewelers, photographers and other vendors.
Good and San Bartolome were the first of two couples who planned weddings at Saturday’s festival. Jose Gonzalez and Richard Rosales were the other couple.
About 1,200 people attended the Pride event Saturday, said spokesman Nathan Svoboda. The festival continues Sunday, when organizers expect a larger crowd of perhaps 6,000.
For Rodgers, Saturday’s ceremonies were a satisfying moment in what he described as a long and ongoing civil rights struggle.
“I’ve been fighting for gay rights for 30-plus years now,” Rodgers said. “I have the physical and emotional scars to show for it.”
Contact John Woolfolk at 408-975-9346. Follow him at Twitter.com/johnwoolfolk1.
