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Clerks too Busy to Resurrect 'Bride', 'Groom'

Local officials ask Calif. to wait 'til after election for change

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 14, 2008 6:19 AM CDT

(Newser) – A civil servants group in California has asked the state for a delay in restoring the words “bride” and “groom” as an option on marriage licenses because clerks are too swamped with election preparations to update the forms, reports the New York Times. The group has “no concern with the content of the change,” says its president—it’s just bad timing.

California designated marrying partners as "Party A" and "Party B" after the state legalized gay marriage in June, but last week ordered county officials to let couples use the terms "bride" and "groom" after a heterosexual pair complained. Local officials say the changes will be expensive and difficult to implement by the November 17 deadline.

Gay couples from across the nation are feverishly planning to tie the knot before Election Day to avoid possible passage of a California ballot initiative aimed at banning same-sex marriage. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Hallmark added same-sex wedding greeting cards to its inventory after California joined Massachusetts as the only U.S. states with legal gay marriage. (AP Photo/Hallmark)

Actress Portia de Rossi, left, and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres arrive at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles in this April 26, 2008 file photo. (AP Photo/Chris Weeks, file)

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Clerks too Busy to Resurrect 'Bride', 'Groom'

Local officials ask Calif. to wait 'til after election for change

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Clerks too Busy to Resurrect 'Bride', 'Groom'

Local officials ask Calif. to wait 'til after election for change

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

California • gay marriage • terminology • Proposition 8

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Supreme Court's Move on Gay Marriage? Maybe Not

Prop 8 ruling is limited to California, providing a potential reason to skip

Court Blocks California's Ban on Gay Marriage

Declares Prop 8 unconstitutional, paving way for Supreme Court decision

Key Ruling Due Today on Calif. Gay Marriage Ban

Judge to rule on gay colleague's decision striking down Prop. 8

Prop 8 Judge Says He's Gay —and It's Irrelevant

Vaughn Walker confirms homosexuality

Elton John: In US, I'm '2nd-Class Citizen'

Singer's getting angry about gay-marriage ban

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