prop 8

article from yahoo news

Same-sex marriage ruling draws a crowd

John Coté, Chronicle Staff Writer

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There were no confrontations as advocates on both sides of the issue milled about in McAllister Street in Civic Center Plaza at 9 a.m., an hour before the court was scheduled to release its ruling. Police were setting up crowd control barriers and stacks of signs leaned up against a light pole, waiting for hands to hoist them.

Dolores Caruthers, 54, and her girlfriend Laura Espinosa, 44, of Novato, got up at 4 a.m. to be in front of the court when the court heard oral arguments in the case in March. Today they slept in until 6 a.m., and when they arrived at 8 a.m. they were among the first people there.

"This day is important to us," Espinosa said. "I want equality."

Caruthers, holding a sign reading, " 'I do' support the freedom to marry," said that in some ways, the couple's future was in balance.

If the court strikes down Prop. 8, "we'll be officially engaged," Caruthers said.

Jorge Riley, 31, of Sacramento had to get up earlier to make the drive to San Francisco to hoist his sign reading, " 'Gay' = Pervert."

"I don't know how many times it's going to take for the judges to listen to the will of the people," Riley said.

E-mail John Coté at jcote@sfchronicle.com.