California Sees Surge In Marriage Licenses
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
LOS ANGELES — Setting a new record in at least one large county, more than 1,601 marriages licenses were issued as of 5 p.m. yesterday in California — more than three times the normal rate — as gay couples across the state embraced their first opportunity to legally wed, a Los Angeles Times survey found.
Based on reports from 56 of the state’s 58 counties, most were experiencing a surge in marriage license applications, if not the overwhelming crush of requests some expected. On an average June day, 460 marriage licenses are issued in the state.
San Diego County reported 201 licenses issued as of 4 p.m., surpassing the previous record, set on a Valentine’s Day. In Los Angeles, at least 250 licenses had been distributed, 88% more than for an entire day in June under normal circumstances.
