Two middle-aged women enter the Yolo County Clerk's Office
holding hands. They ask Freddie Oakley for a marriage
license.
Oakley: "You know what? It would be my joy to issue you
a marriage license today. I am not allowed to give you one
under California law."
Oakley gives the couple an IOU instead and they leave with
tears in their eyes. Shortly after, Oakley rejects another
couple . . . this time, much younger. Megan Lin and her
fiance are graduate students in their twenties.
Lin: "Hopefully one day we can get married. So now we
have the I.O.U. and the engagement. We'll just collect
these things until eventually we can actually get
married."
Protestes like this took place across the country on
Valentine's Day. Oakley says she's happy she could at least
give the couples an I.O.U.
