Gay councilman weds

Serving as a witness was Councilwoman Coralin Feierbach; Planning Commissioner Bill Dickenson drove the party to San Francisco City Hall for the ceremony. Vice Chair of Planning Ken Parsons was also present.

Mathewson and his spouse, Bob Griffith, didn't jump to get in line when they first heard that San Francisco began issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. Both have busy work schedules and didn't think it would be practical to stand in line for hours waiting for a license. Besides, Mathewson said they've been living like a married couple for so long that getting an official license didn't seem like a huge deal. The pair even helped raise Griffith's daughter, who is now 18.

When San Francisco started taking phone reservations for the ceremonies, however, Mathewson started dialing. He got a busy signal for about three days, then one day the line started ringing.

"I got through on the 67th ring," Mathewson said. "I remember counting."

Mathewson and Griffith were given an appointment time just a week away and suddenly they found themselves in San Francisco's City Hall, waiting in the rotunda for the ceremony.

Both Mathewson and Griffith were wearing suits and sporting white gardenias that Feierbach had given them. Before the ceremony was performed, a man from St. Louis asked if he could take their picture. The man's partner couldn't be there, but he wanted to share the moment with him.

"It was a really sweet thing to see," Feierbach said. "It was so overwhelming and everyone was so kind and welcoming."

Mathewson was also moved by the bouquets a well-wisher from Vancouver donated to all the gay couples getting married. The man from Vancouver has sent about $11,000 worth of bouquets; Mathewson has been corresponding with the man since the wedding.

It's not just people from far away who wish the couple well, however. Belmont city officials and community members have never given Mathewson any negativity about his relationship. The families of both men have always been supportive, so Mathewson said he's always been open about their relationship. In fact, Griffith swore in Mathewson when he joined the City Council in November. Griffith regularly attends city functions with Mathewson as well.

"We've had nothing but congratulation from people in the community," Mathewson said. "There may be some people out there who aren't comfortable about it, but it's never been an issue."

Mathewson doesn't make an issue of it, either. He says it's such a natural part of his life that it's just become a coincidental part of who he is. That's part of being openly gay and being on the City Council - it let's people see the human side of the issue, Mathewson said. The idea is that after awhile people won't label him as being gay.

"People see that gay people and lesbians are just normal parts of everyday society," he said. "We never made a big deal about it and it wasn't ever my intention to go out and make a big splash about it."

That's just how Feierbach said everyone regards it. Feierbach has known Mathewson for 10 years. They became life-long friends after running against each other for City Council. Feierbach has always known that Mathewson was gay and never thought twice about it.

"Nobody thinks about it," she said.

After 30 years together, Mathewson said the marriage hasn't changed their lives much.

"To be cutesy about it, I guess we aren't living in sin anymore," Mathewson said.

Yunmi Choi can be reached by e-mail at yunmi@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 109.