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30-year engagement for Iris Harrell, Ann Benson

Original post made on Aug 13, 2008

A local lesbian couple prepares for a walk down the aisle after the California Supreme Court clears the way.


  • The ongoing legal battle over same-sex marriage.


    Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, August 13, 2008, 9:03 AM
  • Comments (34)

    Posted by please
    a resident of Menlo Park: Stanford Hills
    on Aug 13, 2008 at 9:59 am

    A MARRIAGE is between a MAN and a WOMAN...PERIOD.


    Posted by hetero
    a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
    on Aug 13, 2008 at 10:27 am

    Mine is, and I wouldn't marry otherwise, but a marriage is a wonderful pledge between two people who love each other. I am happy for this couple.


    Posted by Ima Breeder
    a resident of Atherton: Lindenwood
    on Aug 13, 2008 at 10:39 am

    Congratulations and much happiness to Iris and Ann. It's nice to see good relationships celebrated in the media.


    Posted by elkeel
    a resident of Atherton: Lloyden Park
    on Aug 13, 2008 at 2:25 pm

    Lesbians! Yay!


    Posted by Debra Shapiro
    a resident of another community
    on Aug 13, 2008 at 5:52 pm

    Congratulations to Iris and Ann! My partner and I have been together for 14 years and we had a big wedding before it was legal...but it cost like a real wedding. It made a real difference to our families; They had more respect for us as a couple. Marriage is definitely NOT just between and man and a woman. A family is a family ,and many of us need legal protection in this society.


    Posted by Kate O'Hanlan, MD
    a resident of Portola Valley: Portola Valley Ranch
    on Aug 13, 2008 at 8:59 pm

    This equal access to marriage is good for America according to The American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association, and American Psychoanalytic Association. The AMA itself confirms that sexual orientation is natural, biologically induced, morally neutral, immutable, neither contagious nor learned, and has no bearing on an individual's ability to form deep and lasting relationships, to parent children, to work, or to contribute to society; the APA, APsyA, AAP, and APA also endorsed civil marriage for same sex couples because marriage strengthens the mental and physical health and the longevity of couples, and provides greater legal and financial security for children, parents, and seniors.


    Posted by Chino Blanco
    a resident of another community
    on Aug 14, 2008 at 2:55 am

    This Thursday, August 14th, from 5:30 p.m - 8:30 p.m. at 2020 Main Street, Irvine, California:

    ACTION ALERT: Tell the Right-Wing Consultants NO to Prop 8!

    Web Link


    Posted by Margaret
    a resident of Menlo Park: Suburban Park/Lorelei Manor/Flood Park Triangle
    on Aug 14, 2008 at 7:38 am

    Congratulations!


    Posted by Brian
    a resident of Portola Valley: Ladera
    on Aug 14, 2008 at 7:40 am

    It is wonderful that this devoted couple will finally be given the legal and family recognition they so clearly deserve. We must not allow Proposition 8 to make this impossible for other couples.


    Posted by voting
    a resident of Menlo Park: Sharon Heights
    on Aug 14, 2008 at 11:43 am

    PROPOSITION 8 HAS MY VOTE!!!!! These people are wrong! Gays are not normal. Gays and Lesbians should NOT be allowed to marry. It makes a mockery of marriage. I now pronounce you wife and wife? Husband and husband? Ridiculous!! Enough of this Liberal crap...Only in this left wing left coast do we have to put up with this!


    Posted by voting too
    a resident of Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
    on Aug 14, 2008 at 12:31 pm

    Well, voting, I guess I'll be canceling out your vote. I'll think of you as I gleefully Just Say No.

    By the way, this lovely left-wing coast isn't even the first state to acknowledge that gays have a constitutional right to marriage. Do you even attempt to keep up with the news? I was able to legally marry in this state decades ago. It's about time other couples daring to make a formal commitment to each other "in sickness and in health" are allowed to do the same legally.


    Posted by More Voting
    a resident of Menlo Park: Downtown
    on Aug 14, 2008 at 1:36 pm

    Congratulations to this and other gay couples. I can remember when people of different races could not marry, in this state. It is hardly a left coast liberal thing. But it is a civil rights thing.

    How does this make a mockery of marriage? Why shouldn't two people who love each other be given legal and communal status? That would seem to speak well of marriage.


    Posted by Been there,done that
    a resident of another community
    on Aug 14, 2008 at 2:23 pm

    Marriage sucks! Be happy you two, don't mess it up with vows-you'll see.


    Posted by Glenda
    a resident of Menlo Park: Downtown
    on Aug 14, 2008 at 3:30 pm

    In the wise words of Jon Stewart, If you don't like gay marriage, don't have one.
    There's no reason the state should deny civil rights to people based on homophobic lunacy.
    I hope Prop. 8 goes down in flames.


    Posted by Vox
    a resident of another community
    on Aug 14, 2008 at 4:03 pm

    Voting, you seemed to miss the fact that gay marriage is legal in Massachusets, which continues to be located on the right coast.


    Posted by ticked
    a resident of Menlo Park: Downtown
    on Aug 14, 2008 at 4:59 pm

    "The Almanac runs obituaries in its news section on people who lived in, or played a prominent role in, Atherton, Menlo Park, Portola Valley and Woodside" ...and two lesbians getting married IS news? Do they play a prominent role in one of our cities? Why is this story news and more worthy of space in this paper, while obituaries notifying the community of a friend or loved one's passing are not?


    Posted by Splitsville
    a resident of Portola Valley: Portola Valley Ranch
    on Aug 15, 2008 at 2:06 am


    To Ticked - Please explain what obituaries has to do with whether two lesbians marrying is news. We don't see the conection.




    Posted by HillbillyHell
    a resident of Menlo Park: The Willows
    on Aug 15, 2008 at 2:09 am


    Congratulations...now that lesbians & gays can legally marry they can be as miserable as the rest of us.


    Posted by BeetleNut
    a resident of Menlo Park: South of Seminary/Vintage Oaks
    on Aug 15, 2008 at 2:12 am


    Divorce lawyers throughout California are rejoicing.


    Posted by sickened
    a resident of Menlo Park: Fair Oaks
    on Aug 15, 2008 at 9:53 am

    This is so wrong for a multitude of reasons. What these people do behind closed doors is one thing. I resent it being thrown in my face everywhere I turn. Marriage is between a man and a woman. For those misguided folks that seem to think this is OK it is not. Read the Bible. It is morally and ethically wrong. It is disgusting to see these people "raise" children. How wrong is that to have a child grow up with two lesbians or two homosexuals. Confusing to say the least. Proposition 8 will pass. For those who think this is right, and for those who commit this very wrong act...you will get yours when you meet your maker.


    Posted by Glenda
    a resident of Menlo Park: Downtown
    on Aug 15, 2008 at 10:56 am

    I'm sure Jesus doesn't appreciate you speaking on his behalf, "sickened."
    Why don't you try giving the New Testament a whirl and see what He says about homosexuals? (hint: nothing)

    And what's so confusing for kids about having two moms or two dads? I'd say it's worse for a child to grow up in a household run by bigots.


    Posted by hetero
    a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
    on Aug 15, 2008 at 1:44 pm

    Many children grow up with more than one dad or mom because the first marriage didn't work out. Do these comments mean that those children are doomed, too?
    I really like Jon Stewart's advice mentioned earlier. A gay marriage is not for me so I don't have one.


    Posted by Palo Altan
    a resident of another community
    on Aug 15, 2008 at 2:48 pm

    Mazel Tov!! (Congratulations)


    Posted by sickened
    a resident of Menlo Park: University Heights
    on Aug 18, 2008 at 9:43 am

    This is sick...wrong...immoral...and disgusting. Why on earth would the Almanac put these two Dykes on the front cover like they are doing something noble??? It is anything but. I will never pick up another Alamanac ever again...neither will any of my friends. We are all horrified that this type of behavior was glorified.


    Posted by good riddance
    a resident of Menlo Park: Park Forest
    on Aug 18, 2008 at 10:13 am

    Don't stop there Sickened, take the entire klan back to Kansas where stadium sized crowds gather to judge and condemn others...what does that book say about judging again...?

    There was a day when one would be struck down just for speaking the name of Yaweh. Now thousands of people gather in stadiums and actually talk as if they are he...

    I guess we will see who gets what when we meet that maker...


    Posted by Sad
    a resident of Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
    on Aug 18, 2008 at 10:30 am

    What a pity that Sickened has been made so sick by his/her fear, inner conflicts and unwillingness to actually practice the Christian principles of love and compassion he/she professes to embrace. Isn't it the bible that says "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"?

    Hope you feel better soon, Sickened, but I'm not optimistic. You don't appear to be the soul-searching type.


    Posted by Valerie Frederickson
    a resident of Menlo Park: Menlo Oaks
    on Aug 27, 2008 at 2:14 pm

    Congratulations to two hard working, generous local business owners on their upcoming marriage. For me, as a heterosexual, married, Christian woman, it is not my place to judge, but to show God's love. I think that Iris and Ann have done that continuously through their leadership as employers, and as active members of the local business community. I'm very glad that they, too, can now have the wonderful institution of marriage that us straight people have been allowed to have. Best wishes for many, many happy years!


    Posted by Old Timer
    a resident of Atherton: Lindenwood
    on Aug 29, 2008 at 8:06 pm

    Thanks Valerie. My faith in Menlo Park residents has been restored.


    Posted by ex-resident
    a resident of another community
    on Sep 12, 2008 at 6:12 pm

    Hurrah for Iris & Ann. These lovely women have been committed to each other for decades, and it is about time that they can make it legal and have the advantages of other married people.

    I wish them many more years of happiness and hope they are lucky enough to avoid all the small minded people who reside in our communities. I am an ex-resident of both Menlo Park and Woodside, and hope the bigots there are in the minority.

    CONGRATULATIONS!!

    Oh, and I hope the Almanac keeps up the great human interest stories of it's residents.


    Posted by Virgil
    a resident of Atherton: other
    on Sep 15, 2008 at 11:19 am

    Amor vincit omnia.


    Posted by Sarah V.
    a resident of another community
    on Oct 1, 2014 at 3:56 pm

    I had the pleasure of meeting Iris and Ann, who were old family friends, when I was 13. (Ann's mother was my grandmother's close friend for many years.) Meeting them, getting to know them, and seeing how much they loved each other is what inspired me to become a LGBT rights activist since meeting them, which would later inspire me to come out as bisexual to my friends later. I'll never forget going to see "The Phantom of the Opera" with them in San Francisco, I'll never forget how honest and open they were with me about being a couple, and I'll never forget how much fun I had with them. I found this article on a Google search today. I'm so ecstatic and just over the moon that they got to get married! I wish I knew how to contact them and give them my congratulations!


    Posted by Menlo Voter
    a resident of Menlo Park: other
    on Oct 1, 2014 at 6:25 pm

    Sarah:

    Harrell Remodeling: Web Link


    Posted by Name hidden
    a resident of Menlo Park: Suburban Park/Lorelei Manor/Flood Park Triangle

    on Aug 31, 2017 at 2:21 pm

    Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?


    Posted by Name hidden
    a resident of Menlo Park: Suburban Park/Lorelei Manor/Flood Park Triangle

    on Aug 31, 2017 at 2:21 pm

    Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?


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