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Love Prevails Nadav Soroker
Bill Rousseau hadn’t married a gay couple since 2008. But in his office at the county clerk last week, sure enough, his phone started ringing again. Nadav Soroker
NORTH BAY BOH EM I AN | JULY 3 – 9, 20 1 3 | BO H E M I AN.COM
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Following last Wednesday’s Supreme Court decision effectively overturning Proposition 8, the gates have been reopened for Rousseau to issue licenses for and to conduct legal same-sex marriages in California. It’s something the Sonoma County clerk-recorderassessor had been eagerly awaiting, and he’s not alone. On Monday, the hallway of the clerk’s office teemed with couples in line when the doors opened at 8am. Not long after, Katie and Amy Evans-Reber became the first couple married—by Rousseau himself. Throughout the day, more couples wed, like Wanda and Susie Johnston of Lake County, above. Rousseau remembers being an officiant in 2008, describing it as a celebratory time. “As the officiant, I felt very honored to be able to perform some of those services. There were couples that had been together 20, 30 years, finally getting married,” he says.
FAIR HOUSING Caroline Peattie says including affordable housing with lead paint and asbestos fuels negative perceptions.
Housing Alert A new real estate disclosure in Marin
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new disclosure form given to Marin homebuyers is the latest fault line in a Richter-topping controversy over regional zoning laws and affordable housing.
The Marin Association of Realtors’ form informs potential homebuyers of usual disclosures such as pesticide-spraying, potential fire hazards and wastewater regulations. But on page 13, in a new clause adopted
in May, it also addresses nearby housing developments. Fair-housing advocates worry that adding affordable housing to a list of mostly negative disclosures, including the presence of lead paint and any prior death on the property, could have NIMBY implications. “From time to time, the county, city and towns of Marin identify areas of Marin for possible developments,” it reads. “Real estate brokers and their agents are not responsible for investigating or identifying properties which
BY RACHEL DOVEY may be rezoned or affected by future developments.” It’s hardly inflammatory language, but the environment into which it slips is very much heated. The document was updated around the same time the Marin Association of Realtors announced its opposition to One Bay Area, an ambitious, controversial effort by regional planning hub the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) to encourage smart growth. As the Bohemian has previously reported, One Bay Area ) 10
For the next couple of weeks, Rousseau predicts a nearconstant stream of happy spouses-to-be. “We’ve got a couple wedding rooms, and we’re going to get some more as this thing develops,” he says. “We’ve got a couple of nice arbors at the clerk’s office that we can do for outdoor ceremonies as well. And we’re going to look for more depending on the demand.” Same-sex couples can start the marriage process by filling out a marriage license application online through the county office’s website, where fees for licenses and ceremonies are also provided. Those rushing to the clerk’s office should remember that both parties must be present to receive a license, and for ceremonies, a witness is needed, Rousseau adds. And, yes, there may be a wait.—Anna Hecht
The Bohemian started as The Paper in 1978.