It’s been a rather long courtship, but some 56 years after becoming lovers, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon have finally made honest women of each other. Del and Phyllis were among the first gay and lesbian couples to get married in California following the state supreme court’s overturning of a ban on same-sex unions.

The reporting of yesterday’s wedding ceremonies has been much more life and love affirming than, say, that of the religious vows declared by two gay Christian priests I wrote about on Sunday last. This despite the knuckle-dragging protests that took place in each case.

Congratulations to Del & Phyllis!