More than 200 families and friends gathered in front of the Bexar County Courthouse, just one minute after midnight on Sunday for the traditional free Valentine’s Day wedding ceremonies.
The tradition has occured every Valentine’s Day in Bexar County since 1989. County Clerk Gerard C. “Gerry” Rickhoff performed the ceremonies this year, offering his services to all couples seeking marriage.
In the moments leading up to midnight, the crowds heard a reading from Corinthians 13:4: “Love is patient, love is kind,” and sage advice from Rickhoff’s grandmother to open a savings account. Since 12:01 a.m., nearly 100 couples have been married. The ceremonies will continue throughout Valentine’s Day at 10 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Participants must obtain a marriage license 72 hours in advance from Bexar County Clerk’s Office at 101 W. Nueva Street.
Top Image: Jose Magri Flores and Patrick Miller take a photo after their Valentine’s Day marriage. Photo by Kathryn Boyd-Batstone
Gerry Rickhoff is that rare species of Texas Republicans: a pro-gay one (and he’s straight)! Good for him for welcoming same-sex marriage even when Abbott & Paxton were making all sorts of threatening homophobic noises to prevent ALL couples from obtaining one of those silly little marriage licenses. San Antonio passed a Nondiscrimination Ordinance which then withstood a failed attack by religious rightwingers. San Antonio should be proud that it upholds marriage equality and is truly of the 21st century. (Regrettably, the anti-marriage forces in Houston were successful in defeating Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance, making that city seem to the rest of the world stuck in the 1950s.) REGISTER TO VOTE and VOTE to counteract the war in Texas against women and LGBT folks.
so if i bought a marrige certificate tomarrow…02/13/2018..and go to the courthouse on valentines day to get married on Valentines day..We CAN or CAN NOT get married because of this 72 hour thing??