Smithers–Greene » California

Third Anniversary of our California Same-sex Marriage

Daniel Greene — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:34:28 +0000

It’s important to recognize that Andy & I were already married by our rabbi on August 8, 2004, in the eyes of God and our close family and friends. Nonetheless, we commemorate today the third anniversary of our “legal” marriage in California on June 21, 2008. California began marrying same–sex couples legally on Tuesday, June 17, 2008, and Andy & I drove Friday night to get to San Diego so we could be married the first day we could. It was not just a political statement, since we were already married and still are, but we did it for political and legal reasons. We went to show California that same–sex couples demanded legal marriage. As it turned out, we were married by a sweet young man who had been deputized for the occasion and was as sympathetic to our cause as can be, and we were blessed to have a few of our closest friends and my mother there to join us. It was, as you can see in the video, a heartfelt, tearful, and joyful occasion. This should not be an ephemeral phenomenon. Same–sex marriage should become legal throughout the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. It’s way past due.

Daniel and Me had the pleasure to go…

Andy Smithers — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 07:18:27 +0000

Daniel and Me had the pleasure to go to San Diego and get married the first day of summer June 21, 2008. We wanted to do this as a statement of legally binding our love in a more formal way. The sad part about it is that same sex marriage has been taken away from those that want it now. As the courts fight over weather on not this should be legal, we are a few of the lucky ones that are. Happy Anniversary to my loving husband on this our third year of our legal marriage

Prop 8 is Overturned!

Andy Smithers — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 23:28:56 +0000

My faith in justice has prevailed! No longer will I worry if my marriage to Daniel Greene will be made invalid or less than that of a heterosexual couple.

Our California Same-Sex Civil Marriage Ceremony

Daniel Greene — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:42:04 +0000

Andy & I had already been married by our rabbi at Dor Hadash in San Diego on August 8, 2004, but we jumped at the chance to make our partnership legal in California the first Saturday they performed these civil marriages: June 21, 2008. We were married at about 5:30 PM by a deputy named Michael, whom I recognized from the gay community. My friend Paul took this video with my Canon G9 camera, my mom and Andy’s friend David were witnesses, and also present were my mom’s friend Honey and David’s boyfriend Rich. There was an assistant in the room as well.

At the time we were married, this file was too large to upload to YouTube, I didn’t have the software to facilitate closed-captioning it, and YouTube didn’t yet allow for captions to be uploaded to accompany videos. Now, a year later, “we have the technology” (to quote from the opening sequence of The Six Million Dollar Man), and I have the honor of reliving this moment and crying at the wonder of it all.

I just want to say this: Love is gr8. Repeal Prop h8!

Just Married!

Daniel Greene — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 15:01:57 +0000

Just Married!
Originally uploaded by Daniel Greene.

I’m posting this on the one-week anniversary of our legal same-sex marriage in California. Since I took it with my Sidekick and uploaded it to Flickr right after our civil ceremony, it’s been viewed (as of this writing) 199 times, had received 53 comments, and 6 people call it a favorite.

A million thanks to all who made it possible for us to get married legally!