Castro hosts a big celebration

The celebrations over the Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage came home to roost on Friday evening as hundreds, if not thousands, were drawn to the Castro District, San Francisco’s historic LGBT epicenter.

Revelers crammed shoulder to shoulder onto the streets and sidewalks at Castro Street between Market and 18th streets, which was closed to traffic for an evening rally organized by a coalition of marriage equality groups.

“I never thought I’d see the day when the United States Supreme Court would say that queer people have the same rights as everyone else,” San Francisco Supervisor David Campos, said to cheers from the crowd.

A hush fell over the crowd briefly and heads bowed before a celebratory roar went up.

“There has never been such a sweeping reversal on a social issue in such a short time,” said former State Senator Carol Migden.

[...] Supervisor Scott Wiener, followed by former supervisor now Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, both had some choice words for the justices who dissented from the 5-4 historic ruling.

The Supreme Court decision auspiciously coincided with San Francisco Pride festivities, including the 12th annual Trans March Friday evening from Dolores Park to the UN Plaza.

Thousands of participants dressed in everything from rainbow colors to wedding dresses wrapped their arms around one another, cheering and moving slowly down Dolores Street.

With that, the plan was in motion.

Since San Francisco’s City Hall requires appointments for wedding licenses, the couple drove from their houseboat in South San Francisco to Redwood City in San Mateo County, where county officials issued the marriage license.