Letters: California wasn’t late on gay marriage

Re “California, late to the altar,” Editorial, April 26

Your editorial regarding the role of California in the race to recognize same-sex marriage omits what I believe to be the biggest catalyst of the changes taking place in the country.

In 2004, then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom took the politically courageous action of ordering his city-county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. His action began the entire cavalcade going on today and placed California at the forefront of this civil rights battle.

Furthermore, don’t forget that about 18,000 gay Californian couples are legally married. That was a very early development in the nation’s growing acceptance of gay marriage, despite the subsequent setbacks here.

William Wickwire

Hermosa Beach

California should not be at the marriage altar at all. The state should take itself out of marriage and give the same recognition and status only to a civil union contract between two consenting adults.

Marriage should be a ceremonial recognition by religious or cultural groups according to their traditions and beliefs. Simple.

Ricardo Nicol

San Clemente

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