Same-Sex Weddings

By the numbers

On June 17, California legalized same-sex marriages after the state supreme court overturned a 2000 ballot initiative that banned them. The court’s decision unleashed a torrent of gay nuptials across the state and mobilized opponents of same-sex marriage, who collected hundreds of thousands of signatures to once again place the issue—in the form of Proposition 8—on the November 4 ballot.

172

 Same-sex marriage licenses issued in Contra Costa County between June 17 and July 18.

760

Average price in dollars for the more elaborate cakes ordered by same-sex couples at Le Gateau Elegant in Martinez, about 50 percent more than the standard cakes typically requested by heterosexual couples.

700

Average cost in dollars to photograph same-sex weddings—about half the amount of other weddings because same-sex marriage celebrations have tended to be smaller in scale, according to Pleasant Hill–based Fun Photo Guys.

3.7

Amount in millions of dollars raised this year by committees supporting Proposition 8 as of June 30.

4.1

Millions of dollars raised by committees opposed to Prop. 8 over the same time period.