Jamila Tharp and Michelle Hasting crossed the Canadian border two years ago to commit themselves to each other for the rest of their lives. Both sides of their families attended the Vancouver wedding ceremony, as did their daughter, who was the flower girl, “3, and very excited,” Tharp said.

That date – Aug. 19, 2006 – came approximately 16 years after the two women met in a bowling alley in Austin, Texas. “We were quite in love,” Tharp said. “And I don’t think our story is unusual.”

What is unusual is the journey toward their life commitment ceremony. After dating in the early 1990s, they stopped because “some family members had difficulty with our dating, seeing one another,” Tharp said. “It was quite traumatic for them at the time.”

It wasn’t until Tharp and Hasting came into contact with each other several years later that both realized “life was too short to not pursue our hearts’ desire and dreams,” Tharp said.

“We realized, much to our surprise, we still felt strongly about one another and still loved one another,” Tharp said.

Part of that realization brought the couple out to California, where they believed they could have a better life and start a family together. “We’re pleased to feel as though truly, we are able to do that here in California,” Tharp said.

Under the historic court ruling that made California the second state to allow same-sex marriages, gay and lesbian couples will be walking up the Humboldt County Courthouse steps today to say “I do” and make their unions official in the eyes of the law.

The May 15 decision by the California Supreme Court took effect Monday at 5 p.m. At least five county clerks around the state agreed to extend their hours to issue marriage licenses, and many gay couples planned to get married on the spot. Humboldt County was not among those to extend its hours, but it will be ready with new marriage license application forms for same-sex and heterosexual couples alike.

Officials will be required to issue licenses that have the words “Party A” and “Party B” where “bride” and “groom” used to be.

Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder Carolyn Crnich will be at work this morning to make sure the license switch-over process goes smoothly and to prepare for the first same-sex couple ceremony to take place in the county.

“It’s definitely going to be different than we’ve ever known it before,” Crnich said.

Tharp and Hasting will be that first couple, as they’re scheduled to renew their vows at 10:30 a.m. Up to 10 same-sex-couple wedding ceremonies are scheduled to take place at the Courthouse today and the Clerk-recorder’s Office is providing extra appointment slots due to the demand.

“We are pretty well booked up for appointments through the rest of the week,” Crnich said.

A group of “real marriage advocates” are pushing for a proposition that will override the California Supreme Court decision and “protect a very important role model for children.” Campaign for Children and Families President Randy Thomasson, in a Monday evening news conference, said he’ll continue to protect marriage between a man and a woman.

“Parents, grandparents and everyone else who is appalled at the notion of homosexual ‘marriages’ shouldn’t give up,” he said in a news release. “Californians can protect marriage licenses for a man and a woman by amending the state Constitution.”

Regardless of those who don’t agree with the changed law, Tharp will be at the Courthouse with Hasting, their now-5-year-old daughter, 18-month-old son and month-old foster son.

“We realize the difficulties we’ve had in the past are still difficulties people still struggle with,” Tharp said. “We hope and pray for everyone that love prevails.”

Tharp sits on the Marriage Equality U.S.A. board and is on a state advisory board for the Unitarian Universalists Legislative Ministry of California. The stay-at-home mother also sits on the Humboldt County Human Rights Commission.

“We’re ecstatic, we’re overjoyed, moved and touched,” she said. “And it means a lot to us – it means a lot to our daughter.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Related Links:
Historic day gives same-sex couples an equal right to marriage
Local wedding industry ready and welcoming for same-sex marriages