US girl holds signs in favor of traditional marriage, as some 15 same-sex wedding ceremonies took place in San Francisco. Photo by AFP
The US city of San Francisco became the first civil authority in the country to officially marry gay couples. Some 15 gay couples got married, and at least a dozen others were issued marriage licenses, following orders from mayor Gavin Newsom. The landmark move, however, provoked immediate reaction from conservative groups in the city, who launched protests and insisted Newsom had violated the law.