Tom O’Hare hadn’t planned to get married in October. But on a recent Saturday he happened upon a rally in support of Proposition 8, which would amend the California Constitution to allow marriage between only one man and one woman.
It occurred to O’Hare, who lives in Long Beach, that if he didn’t get married before Election Day, he might lose his only shot at matrimony. So on Thursday he drove to West Hollywood and married his partner of 30 years.
Officials in West Hollywood and San Francisco say they are seeing a surge in same-sex weddings as gay couples, nervous about polls showing a close race on Proposition 8, rush to the altar.
A Field Poll released Friday showed 49 percent of likely voters opposed to the measure, 44 percent in favor, and 7 percent undecided. And the race is narrowing. A September Field poll showed the measure trailing by 52 percent to 38 percent. The new poll also found that “significant proportions” of voters on both sides are conflicted about the issue.
The closer the polls get, the more the phone rings at Art and Cake in West Hollywood.
“This weekend is the ultimate craziness. . . . Every other call right now is, ‘Do you have little grooms for the cake?’ ” owner Tom Rosa said. Despite the faltering economy, Rosa said he has had to hire additional staff to handle the rush.
West Hollywood City Councilman John Duran said he was scheduled to perform 20 weddings in the days before Tuesday’s election. In San Francisco, Nate Ballard, a spokesman for Mayor Gavin Newsom, compared City Hall there to “a wedding chapel in Las Vegas . . . full of people tying the knot.”
Ryan Rice, 35, and Brett Chisholm, 27, flew from Houston last week and drove straight to the Beverly Hills courthouse for their marriage license.
“Watching the proposition, we thought, ‘No time like now,’ ” Chisholm said.
Business groups say the estimated 16,000 same-sex weddings over the past four months provided a slight economic boon.
“Our businesses would be hurting a heck of a lot more if there weren’t all these people around getting married,” said Sharon Sandow, who heads the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
The fight over Proposition 8 has emerged as one of the nation’s hottest social issues this election year, with backers and foes expected to raise and spend more than $65 million.
Proponents planned rallies and church services over the weekend, an event at Qualcomm