San Francisco, CA
Couples wed in SF to commemorate 20 years since 'Winter of Love' same-sex marriages
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.
San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder will resume her duties next week after taking a three-month leave of absence due to mental health.
“I’m coming clear-eyed and grounded and eager to serve in this role again,” Fielder said in a video posted to social media Tuesday.
Fielder was first elected in 2024 to serve District 9, which includes the Mission District and Bernal Heights and Portola neighborhoods. In late March of this year, her staffers announced she was taking a leave of absence to address an “acute personal health crisis” after missing a few weeks of Board of Supervisors meetings.
“I left the work that I love so much, not because I wanted to, but because my mental health demanded it, and I say that with no shame,” she said.
In the video statement, Fielder mentioned that the pressure of serving as a supervisor took a toll on her mental health.
“I’ve often felt like the weight of this district and city is on my shoulders, and I, through this leave, have had the silver lining of understanding that it never has,” she said. “I was going 100 miles an hour since early 2023 when I started the campaign for supervisor, and being a grassroots candidate is a lot of elbow grease.”
Fielder’s staff continued some of the work in her district while she was gone. She thanked her colleagues and Mayor Daniel Lurie for their support and allowing her to be excused from meetings.
Fielder will return to work Monday and appear at the June 30 board meeting. She is also expected to host listening sessions in her district through July.
“I am an example that it is possible to come back and heal,” she said. “I could not be more honored to serve and more ready to serve.”
San Francisco, CA
Where to watch Athletics vs San Francisco Giants: TV channel, start time, streaming for June 23
What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.
The MLB action continues on Tuesday as the Athletics visit the San Francisco Giants.
Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is Athletics vs San Francisco Giants?
First pitch between the San Francisco Giants and Athletics is scheduled for 9:45 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, June 23.
How to watch Athletics vs San Francisco Giants on Tuesday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 6:33 a.m.
Watch MLB all season long with Fubo
MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for June 23 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
An abandoned house near San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood that has been popular with squatters for years is now for sale.
On Yukon Street at the edge of Kite Hill in the Eureka Valley neighborhood, the house with arched windows over the garage, including one that’s broken, is listed for $1.3 million.
Listing agent Zara Rowbotham and her brother, James, put together a promotional video highlighting the home’s fixer-upper potential.
There is no running water or power at the house. Neighbors have reported to the city that squatters relieve themselves at the top floor atrium.
“They needed a place to do it, so they had the nice manners to do it in one basket,” Rowbotham said. “Unfortunately it was an outside basket right in front of one of the neighbors’ houses.”
With the nature of San Francisco’s red-hot housing market, Rowbothom said they already have a potential buyer.
Rowbothom added the city is swirling with money right now and there are few places to buy, so properties like the one on Yukon Street – even with a history of squatters – are being snapped up quickly. Rowbothom said they’re going for millions of dollars, with people paying cash a lot of the time.
-
North Dakota2 minutes agoLandowners take transmission line fight to North Dakota Supreme Court
-
Ohio4 minutes ago
Ohio Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 Midday winning numbers for June 23, 2026
-
Oklahoma12 minutes agoBode Sparrow commits Friday: why BYU is Oklahoma’s biggest threat for the Davis star
-
Oregon14 minutes agoTexas man wanted for child sex crimes, theft arrested in SW Oregon
-
Pennsylvania20 minutes agoGarrity challenges Shapiro to 7 debates in Pennsylvania governor race
-
Rhode Island27 minutes agoTwo Rhode Island residents charged in $6.5 billion healthcare fraud crackdown
-
South-Carolina29 minutes agoAdmiral fired in Hegseth purge wins Democratic primary in South Carolina
-
South Dakota35 minutes agoSocial media’s latest squeeze is flying off South Dakota shelves
