California will change marriage licenses to say 'bride' and 'groom'

Bride and groom are in. Party A and Party B are out.

California state officials, saying they had heard from residents all over the state who would like to be identified as "bride" and "groom" on their marriage license, announced Monday that state forms will be changed. Again.

Couples filling out the license will now have the option of declaring themselves bride and groom, bride and bride or groom and groom. They can also leave the space blank. The new forms will be available in county offices in November.

Roseville residents Rachel Bird and Gideon Codding, who refused to sign the new forms and sued the state, said they were relieved by the changes.

"We are just so thankful," said Codding.

A spokesman for the California Department of Public Health which oversees vital statistics denied that that changes are in response to the couple's lawsuit which was filed last week. Spokeswoman Suanne Buggy said the new language had been discussed for some time.

"These options are consistent with court rulings," said Buggy.

State officials changed the forms after the May state Supreme Court ruling that legalized same sex marriage. After that ruling, courts mandated state paperwork to use gender neutral language. State officials dropped the terms "bride" and "groom" and replaced them with the word "Party A" and "Party B."