Day one of domestic partnerships
Here is a look at the past. Items have been culled from The Chronicle’s archives of 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago.
1991
Feb. 15: Scores of gay and lesbian couples held hands and kissed at the top of the grand staircase in San Francisco City Hall yesterday to celebrate the first day of their newly recognized domestic partnerships. The couples, nervous as newly-weds, were introduced oneby-one to a cheering crowd, then smiled and waved as they descended the stairway — all marking the first time a major U.S. city has allowed gays and lesbians to register their relationships in public. More than 275 couples — including about a half dozen heterosexual pairs — paid $35 for an application from the county clerk and became official ‘domestic partners.’ “Ours is the love that has historically not spoken its name,” gay Supervisor Harry Britt told the crowd after the ceremony. “Today is the day we speak it proudly and we speak it loudly.” Among the first to sign up were Sandra Zimmerman and her partner Catherin Tompkins. “Even though we are laughing and having a good time I felt moved,” said Zimmerman. “It was meaningful and historical. We have to take advantage of any opportunity that society affords us to affirm our relationship. It’s still second-class status, but it’s a first step.”
— L.A. Chung and Thomas G. Keane
1966
Feb. 15: The Rolling Stones thundered into San Francisco International Airport last night showing a warm but reserved British composure while their American fans went wild. The five English singers — second in popularity to the Beatles — were met by by some 2,000 admirers who had been haunting the airport corridors for hours prior to their 7:30 arrival. The Stones strode laughing and capering down a glass-enclosed runway while girls in bell-bottomed trou- sers and young men with Prince Valiant haircuts gasped their appreciation. ‘Ohhh, please call me. I’m Pat — please!” a nymphet, all of 14, screamed. “… you will always drive me crazy” read a note one girl pushed under a door, which separated her from the five, while a uniformed deputy attempted to push her back. The singers were eventually whisked into the airport’s VIP room where they relaxed before they boarded a jet to Australia. “Dylan … Dylan?” Mick Jagger responded when someone asked him what he thought of fellow-balladeer Bob Dylan. “Oh, isn’t he that strange little poet,” Brian Jones said, tongue in cheek.” “It’s all a paradox,” said Brian Jones, 22, and the group’s lead guitar. “I mean it’s a kind of schizophrenic thing when I’m performing, I’m 90 per cent with it and just a little part of me is outside it all. I enjoy the work and all that,” he went on “But there are so many other things I want to do and I expect I shall do them,” he added, “when all this has ended. But sometimes, you know, you so very much want to be alone.”
1941
Feb. 14: A deportation warrant of arrest will be served today on Harry Bridges, California CIO director, who must undergo a second deportation trial starting March 31. This was announced last night by Irwin Wixon, district immigration commissioner, who also said that bail would be set at $3,000. Approval for issuance of the latest deportation warrant was given Wednesday by United States Attorney General Jackson on the strength of what he described as “new and additional evidence” contained in a 2,500page report on Bridges by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
1916
Feb. 15: That the applications of Chinese for admission to this country are investigated by the United States Immigration Service in a spirit “hostile to law” was the opinion expressed by Federal Judge Dooling in overruling the demurrer of the Government on the request of Lee Dung Moo for a writ of Habeas Corpus. The law to which the immigration officials are said to be particularly opposed is the statute conferring citizenship on the children of American citizens born in a foreign country. The Chinese, Lee Dung Moo, was born in China, it was shown, of parents who were American citizens. The immigration authorities denied Lee admission on the grounds that he was not born in the United States, had not in their judgment, become an American in spirit, and that Lee himself did not know the English Language. Judge Dooling characterized the act as “unfriendly” to the Chinese race, the law being absolute as to citizenship. Feb. 19: Shooting rats is not in line with the duties of a baker, according to a decision made yesterday by the State Industrial Accident Commission in the case of Herman Sarin of Eureka. On this ground the Commission denied Sarin compensation for ten teeth shot out of his mouth by a fellow baker, engaged in the pastime of killing rats in the bakeroom. Likewise, Sarin’s dental bill of $120 and his hospital bill were disallowed. The proprietor of the bakery, according to testimony, had ordered the rat-shooting pastime stopped and the rifle taken away. His orders were not complied with, however, until after the teeth extraction episode.