San Francisco, CA
Couples wed in SF to commemorate 20 years since 'Winter of Love' same-sex marriages
![Couples wed in SF to commemorate 20 years since 'Winter of Love' same-sex marriages](https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/14426642_021424-kgo-lgbtq-valentines-img.jpg?w=1600)
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — San Francisco is not only celebrating Valentine’s Day on Wednesday, but this week the city is celebrating 20 years since the “Winter of Love.”
That monumental time when the city challenged state law and began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Walking through the hallways of City Hall, Steve Gilman and Matthew Belmont hold on to each other tight knowing that many fought for what they decided to do Wednesday.
“I do,” said Gilman and Belmont as they held each other’s hands.
It was 20 years ago this week that then Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered the city to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in what became known as “The Winter of Love.”
On Wednesday, Mayor London Breed commemorated the historic move with many of the key players that led the battle for marriage equality.
VIDEO: Same-sex couple reflects on 20 years of marriage equality in San Francisco
One of the couples who took part on the historic day of first same-sex marriages in San Francisco reflects on the past 20 years.
“We are celebrating the advocacy of so many of those same-sex couples who showed up to San Francisco year after year asking for the right to do what anyone else deserves the right to do. That is to marry the person they love,” said Mayor Breed.
Among them, then city attorney Dennis Herrera who took the case to the Supreme Court.
“This is a terrific reminder of the battle that we fought 20 years ago and to see so many couples here, opposite-sex couples, same-sex couples. It’s what San Francisco is all about,” said Herrera, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission general manager.
Sitting up front was John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney. One of the first couples to marry in San Francisco. They renewed their vows on Wednesday.
An inspiration to many like Steve and Matthew who’ve been together for 28 years and took this step.
“To be part of something that is so important and so meaningful not just for us but really for history,” said Steve Gilman.
“We had two days to plan so we have rings. Something borrowed, something new and something blue. Oh my goodness,” said Matthew Belmont.
MORE: This singles event lets friends use PowerPoint presentations to ‘pitch’ their single friends
That something borrowed are the rings given to them by Matthews parents.
“They were married 51 years. My mom came to visit us couple years ago and she said I want you guys to have these,” said Belmont.
A full circle moment also for the one marrying them, Carmen Chu the current San Francisco City Administrator and a key player in the battle for same-sex marriage.
“I was the assessor recorder when same-sex marriages resumed in 2008. I think being able to continue to celebrate peoples loves. There couldn’t be a bigger honor,” said Chu.
A legacy carried on by the current City Assessor Joaquin Torres.
“It’s an extraordinary day for us just to celebrate love in the city. When so many people in this country want to roll back our opportunity to choose who we love and who we can be with,” said Torres.
VIDEO: Love story that transcends death: Bay Area man sends lifetime of flowers to his forever Valentine
Danville man sends lifetime of flowers to his wife every Valentine’s Day, even after his death.
As to Steve and Matthew:
Luz Pena: “How does it feel to be married?”
Steve and Matthew: “We’ve been married since the day we met. We kind of have been, but now it’s real. It was always real, but now it’s official.”
The marriage licenses issued during the “Winter of Love” were ultimately voided by the State Supreme Court, leading to many legal challenges.
Marriage for same-sex couples was eventually legalized in California in June of 2013 by the U.S Supreme Court.
If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live
Copyright © 2024 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
Continue Reading
San Francisco, CA
SOURCE SPORTS: Latin Baseball Legend, San Francisco Giants Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda Dies at 86 – The Source
![SOURCE SPORTS: Latin Baseball Legend, San Francisco Giants Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda Dies at 86 – The Source](https://thesource.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-30-at-4.23.27-AM.png)
Orlando Cepeda, the San Francisco Giants first baseman nicknamed “The Baby Bull,” died Friday in his home. He was 86.
“MLB mourns the passing of Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda at the age of 86,” Major League Baseball tweeted. “Known as ‘Cha-Cha’ and ‘The Baby Bull,’ Cepeda slugged 379 home runs, batted .297, and made 11 All-Star teams over 17 seasons. He was unanimously selected as the NL Rookie of the Year in 1958 with the Giants. He was also a unanimous selection for the the NL MVP Award in 1967 when he helped lead the Cardinals to the World Series championship.”
Cepeda was the son of Puerto Rican baseball player Perucho Cepeda, who was not allowed to play in the major leagues because he was Black. Cepeda’s own career began after Pedro Zorilla convinced his family to send him to the United States to try out for the then-New York Giants. He passed the team’s tryout but was sent to the Salem Rebels.
The San Francisco Giants brought Cepeda onboard in 1958, and he closed out his first season as the National League Rookie of the Year. After spending a few more seasons with the Giants, Cepeda was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1966. Though he was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year after his first season, his performance suffered throughout the following two seasons and he was traded to the Atlanta Braves in 1969.
Cepeda retired from baseball in 1974. He was arrested at San Juan International Airport for drug possession the following year after he attempted to pick up two boxes containing marijuana that had been flown in from Colombia. Cepeda served 9 months of a 5 year sentence, but was never able to fully shed his criminal conviction.
Cepeda was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
The baseball great was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 17, 1937. Despite his father’s success in baseball, the family grew up “very poor,” he said in an interview. “My father [legendary player Pedro Cepeda]… was a great baseball player. In those days, a black player didn’t have a chance to play in the big leagues,” Cepeda explained. “So my dad used to go to Cuba, used to go to Dominican Republic, Venezuela… I think he went to Mexico one year.”
Cepeda’s survivors include his wife Nydia and 5 sons, Hector, Orlando Jr., Carl, Malcolm and Ali.
San Francisco, CA
4th of July parade held at San Francisco's Great Highway for 1st time in decades
![4th of July parade held at San Francisco's Great Highway for 1st time in decades](https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/15012339_062924-kgo-sf-july-4-parade-img.jpg?w=1600)
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — A revived San Francisco tradition.
People in the Sunset District marched down the Great Highway on Saturday for the inaugural “Oceanside Fourth of July Parade.”
It’s been decades since the city had a July 4th parade.
Two bands, 25 dancers as well as several parents and kids took part.
Inside effort to bring Fourth of July parade back to San Francisco for first time in decades
Supervisor Joel Engardio organized the event because he says it is time the City had its own Fourth of July parade.
“An event like this tells the world, we are not a doom loop. It tells the world that we have a lot of joy, and we are creating more of it. And, we are imaginative or innovative, and we are going to create our best San Francisco,” Engardio said.
Organizers had the parade on June 29 to make sure people who already made holiday plans could attend.
The supervisor says the plan is to have this on July 4th, next year.
Copyright © 2024 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.
San Francisco, CA
Olivia Culpo Marries San Francisco 49ers Star Christian McCaffrey
![Olivia Culpo Marries San Francisco 49ers Star Christian McCaffrey](https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Olivia-Culpo-Marries-San-Francisco-49ers-Star-Christian-McCaffrey-483.jpg?crop=0px%2C39px%2C1334px%2C701px&resize=1200%2C630&quality=86&strip=all)
Christian McCaffrey, Olivia Culpo. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Olivia Culpo and San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey have officially tied the knot after more than four years of dating.
Culpo, 32, and McCaffrey, 28, tied the knot on Saturday, June 29, in a church in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, according to Vogue.
“It’s a covenant. It’s the beginning of the rest of your life — and it’s the union and bond of two people forever,” Culpo, who wore a Dolce & Gabbana ball gown, told the outlet of the big day.
Following her split from Danny Amendola, Culpo was set up with McCaffrey in June 2019. The couple went public with their relationship in February 2020.
“Happy Valentine’s Day to my best friend. Thank you for changing my life and showing me the kind of love I always wanted but never thought was possible,” Culpo wrote via Instagram at the time. “You are the definition of an answered prayer. I am the luckiest girl in the world.”
McCaffrey, for his part, shared a series of pictures of himself and Culpo with the caption, “Never a dull moment with you. Happy Valentine’s Day.”
Culpo later admitted that she was “not looking for a relationship” when she connected with the football player.
“Three years ago I was not looking for a relationship. When my best friends Kristen & Tyler called me and asked if I would be open to meeting their friend Christian I was apprehensive,” she wrote in June 2022 via Instagram. “I was worried it would be the same old story all over again and that all guys were the same. While my expectations were low, I knew I couldn’t close myself off and make decisions based on fear.”
![Olivia Culpo Marries San Francisco 49ers Star Christian McCaffrey 482](https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Olivia-Culpo-Marries-San-Francisco-49ers-Star-Christian-McCaffrey-482.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all)
Culpo continued: “I’m so grateful for the voice inside me that told me to give love another chance. The yin to my yang, you are the epitome of strength through humility. Thank you for being my rock and restoring my faith in love. You are everything I ever dreamed of and more ❤️ ❤️.”
Nearly five months later, Culpo got candid about how she and McCaffrey make their relationship work despite how busy they are with their own careers.
“We’re both really understanding about [our] schedules and the way that things have to work for the time being, and that definitely helps,” she told Us Weekly at the time. “I think when you’re on the same page with that you can, you really can make it work.”
After three years of dating, the couple got engaged in April 2023. They’ve continued to be each other’s biggest supporters, with Culpo cheering for McCaffrey and the 49ers at Super Bowl LVIII four months before their wedding day. McCaffrey’s team didn’t take home the win — the Kansas City Chiefs beat the 49ers 25-22 — but Culpo was proud to watch her then-fiancé on the field.
“My heart is full of so many emotions,” she captioned a TikTok video in February. “Sad because I wish the outcome was different, but ultimately grateful I get the opportunity to watch someone I love do what he loves and pour his heart and soul into becoming better every single day.”
She added, “I’m so proud of you Christian, you deserve the world. Thank you all so much for the love and support this year! It means so much.”
-
News1 week ago
Tracking a Single Day at the National Domestic Violence Hotline
-
Fitness1 week ago
What's the Least Amount of Exercise I Can Get Away With?
-
World6 days ago
Israel accepts bilateral meeting with EU, but with conditions
-
News1 week ago
Supreme Court upholds law barring domestic abusers from owning guns in major Second Amendment ruling | CNN Politics
-
Politics1 week ago
Supreme Court upholds federal gun ban for those under domestic violence restraining orders
-
Politics1 week ago
Trump classified docs judge to weigh alleged 'unlawful' appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith
-
World1 week ago
Is Israel’s Smotrich fulfilling his dream of annexing the West Bank?
-
World1 week ago
New Caledonia independence activists sent to France for detention