Free Republic

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California will not accept the marriage licenses granted to thousands of same-sex couples in San Francisco because the city created its own form to remove such terms as "bride" and "groom," a state official said on Wednesday. "There is a statewide form that every county has to use for marriage applications. If we receive application forms that are different from the single form used throughout the state, we will not accept them," said Nicole Kasabian Evans, a spokeswoman for the Health and Human Services Agency. Meanwhile, President Bush joined a chorus of those opposing San Francisco's...

Bernalillo, New Mexico-AP -- A county clerk in New Mexico says it has nothing to do with "politics or morals." Sandoval County Clerk Victoria Dunlap says the county plans to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples. She made the decision after asking for an opinion from the county attorney, who said New Mexico law isn't clear on the issue. He also says refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples could open the county to legal action. State law defines marriage as a civil contract between contracting parties. It doesn't mention gender. The issue of gay marriage has stirred controversy...

Mayor Daley said Wednesday he would have "no problem" with County Clerk David Orr issuing marriage licenses to gay couples -- and Orr said he's open to a San Francisco-style protest if a consensus can be built. "They're your doctors, your lawyers, your journalists, your politicians," the mayor said. "They're someone's son or daughter. They're someone's mother or father. . . . I've seen people of the same sex adopt children, have families. [They're] great parents. "Some people have a difference of opinion -- that only a man and a woman can get married. But in the long run, we...