By Peter Henderson and Amanda Beck
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California performed its firstlegally recognized same-sex weddings on Monday and opened itsdoors to gay and lesbian couples from around the country, amove likely to challenge other states that define marriage asbetween a man and a woman.
Octogenarians Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon took the firstvows in San Francisco's ornate City Hall in a ceremony presidedover by Mayor Gavin Newsom, who said California was leading atrend that would sweep the nation.
Acceptance of gay marriage has grown in the United Statesbut most states outlaw it and, overall, Americans prefer togive marriage-like rights to homosexuals under a differentname.
In a November election, Californians have the option to endsame-sex marriage, making the next few months a crucial test ofwhether gays and lesbians can convince fellow citizens thatthere is no going back on marriage rights for all.
Martin and Lyon, who have been together for more than 50years, were also the first to be married in 2004, during the"Winter of Love" when about 4,000 same-sex couples exchangedvows. Courts overturned those unions but last month the stateSupreme Court struck down a ban on homosexual marriage, withthat ruling going into effect late on Monday.
"When we first got together, we weren't really thinkingabout getting married," Lyon said to a small crowd thatlaughed, cheered and threw red rose petals.
Southern Californian couple Robin Tyler and Diane Olson,two of the plaintiffs in the state Supreme Court battle,exchanged vows in Beverly Hills, where for years they hadpetitioned unsuccessfully for a marriage license.
"Here is the final ending to our beautiful story -- 'Andthey lived happily ever after'," Tyler said.
Nearby, a supporter waived a placard that said "Finally."
Still, opponents aim to fight back in November and changethe state constitution to define marriage as between a man anda woman. Conservative Christians have vowed to get voters tothe polls.
California is the second state, after Massachusetts, tomarry same-sex couples but it is the first ready to grantlicenses to couples from any state. Gay marriage is rejected by45 states, although New York will honour California unions.
"If marriages performed outside of New York are going to berecognized, I'm sure it won't be too long before (gay) NewYorkers will be able to be married in their own state. Soalready it is having an impact that crosses to the AtlanticCoast," said Star Trek's Mr. Sulu -- actor George Takei -- whoplans to wed longtime partner Brad Altman later this year.
"We are boldly going where no one has gone before," hesaid, jokingly echoing the opening of the TV series.
SWEEPING CHANGE?
Many countries allow domestic partnerships, although arelative few recognize gay marriage, including Belgium, Canada,Spain and the Netherlands.
Around California, the most populous U.S. state with morethan 36 million people, a few marriage offices startedceremonies after 5 p.m. (8 p.m. EDT/0000 GMT) and planned towork into the evening. Hundreds of volunteers have beendeputized to marry couples in tents and on courthouse lawns.
They may face opponents such as protesters in San Franciscowaving signs reading "Homo Sex is Sin" and similar warnings.
Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Family ResearchCouncil, predicted "months of social chaos that could wreakhavoc on every state in America."
He said California's new policy "threatens to undothousands of years of natural marriage."
Less than a third of Americans responding to a recent CBSpoll said gay marriage should be legal, although the trend istoward growing acceptance. More than a third opposed gaymarriage.
University of Southern California law professor David Cruzpredicted the practicalities of married gay couples moving fromCalifornia to other states would spark change.
"People's attitudes are already changing, and what willchange public opinion in favour of same-sex marriages furtheris knowing same-sex couples and seeing them live their liveslike other married couples," he said.
(Additional reporting by Syantani Chatterjee in LosAngeles, Amanda Beck in San Francisco and Ed Stoddard inDallas; Editing by Dan Whitcomb and John O'Callaghan)
