Anticipating a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court next month, the Riverside County Assessor is preparing to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The County already used gender-neutral marriage licenses, so preparations largely focused on the human side of the license process.
After the state cleared the way in 2008 for same-sex marriages, the County transitioned into a marriage license application that listed “Person #1” and “Person #2.” Each person then had the ability to choose “bride” or “groom.” Now, the County is making sure that the people who work at the counter in the Assessor’s Office is willing to perform the same-sex unions. Because the ceremony is purely civil, the Assessor hopes that it doesn’t present much of a problem.
Before Proposition 8 was approved in 2008, the County issued 2,159 licenses to same-sex couples. Should the Court overturn Proposition 8, the County will be prepared to begin issuing new licenses immediately.
Read the full story at the U-T San Diego.