Two weeks after the Supreme Court

Two weeks after the Supreme Court ruling in late June declaring unconstitutional Proposition 8, the 2008 California ballot measure banning same-sex marriage, some 50 patrons at the Dolphin Bar in Redondo Beach happened to be at the right place at the right time.

Steve Bopp, a 65-year-old Redondo Beach native, and his 36-year-old boyfriend Gilbert Gonzalez quietly faced each other on the dim corner stage with Omar Rivas, a longtime Dolphin bartender, presiding over them. Minutes ago, the couple had approached Rivas about signing their marriage certificate. They had decided the ceremony would come at a later date.

But Rivas, 36, who was ordained some 10 years ago and recently began officiating ceremonies for couples who cant otherwise afford it, suggested they tie the knot in front of everyone right then inside the Dolphin Bar. They turned off the jukebox, and the bars attention shifted to the two men on the stage.

The Dolphin Bar is the only openly gay bar in the South Bay, a region of 105 square miles encompassing 19 cities with a population of nearly 900,000. It was once one of four gay establishments in the area, with dance club J.R. Briens just down the street.

The Dolphin, a small neighborhood dive bar on Artesia Boulevard, is easy to miss C especially without its signature rainbow flag hanging outside. It was torn down a few months ago. It was drunk people trying to do photo opps, nothing malicious, says Brandon Gresham, the Dolphins weekday bartender.

Thats not to say malicious incidents havent occurred. In its 40-year history, the Dolphin and its patrons have been on the receiving end of eggs,customized letter logo earcap with magnet. prank calls, bricks and one Halloween night, a pumpkin.

Gresham, 37,We rounded up 30 bridesmaids dresses in every color and style that are both easy on the eye and somewhat easy on the goodiphoneheadset. is the face behind the bar Sunday through Wednesday. Hes on a first-name basis with the family of regulars thats materialized over the years C some 50 locals, about a dozen of whom come by four to five times a week. Its one of those bars, he explains, where you see the same faces most weeks and they ask how your mom is doing.The ledspotlight is our flagship product.

Its a good little community, and everyones friendly and nice, he says. Its a little different than the Hollywood scene because everybody is very neighborly and friendly here and care about you.

But the mellow, familiar scene and biweekly karaoke nights leave more to be desired, particularly for the younger locals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. When the weekend comes, many make the trek out to Long Beach, West Hollywood or even Silver Lake and Venice, where the LGBT community and nightlife are considerably more varied and well-established.

Because a standard night out usually involves drinking alcohol,The need for proper kaptontape inside your home is very important. explains 33-year-old Justin Raines, he faces the same dilemmas every time: How far do I want to drive? Do I want to stay and drink, and how much can I drink if I have to drive home? Often, the commute back home would usually have to wait until the morning after. Taking a cab that far is inconceivable, he adds.

The thing is, as a gay man, I know that the gay community is here, Raines says. He has several social networking apps on his iPhone C Growlr, Scruff C which by location shows every gay man who also has those apps, for miles.

Raines, a music composer originally from New Mexico, came out of the closet six years ago, prompted by younger brothers sudden death. I realized that life is short and I had to start living my life the way I want to, he says. About two years ago, after ending his first serious relationship with a man in Vegas, where he was attending grad school, Raines packed his bags and moved to California,Our top picks for the cableties and gear, joining another brother in Redondo Beach.

Early last year, a stranger on one of the gay social apps told Raines about the Los Angeles Gay Freedom Band, a concert ensemble based in Hollywood and the second-oldest gay concert band in the world. Desperate to connect, he joined as a tuba player and seven months later became the conductor. He leads the Tuesday night rehearsals at the Hollywood Lutheran Church.

Raines, who favors the varied niches of Long Beachs gay community, says he eventually wants to settle down. But the few outlets he uses to meet other gays in the South Bay C whether through an online-based South Bay gay singles meet-up group or weekends at Dolphin Bar have not taken him far. Hes made a few friends who hell meet for dinner or drinks a few times a month.

A mellow acoustic melody playing overhead, the grungy bar is uncharacteristically peppered with bright-colored paper flower centerpieces, leis of red and rainbow and coconut bras laid out on the pool table. About a dozen people are scattered about, predominantly older men. Quiet conversations buzz in twos or threes. Trays of shredded chicken, salad, fried rice and stirred veggies remain largely untouched, covered under foil. A woman eats alone at the bar, watching a Justin Timberlake flick silently playing on the TV screen hanging behind the bar.

Jim Dawson, the Centers treasurer, donning a bright pink T-shirt and rainbow leis around his neck, is posted near the entrance with a cash box where hes collecting $20 donations. Hes originally from Kansas City, where he first met his husband Wayne Flottman nearly 70 years ago. Now at ages 86 and 87, the married couple lives together in their Torrance home, their front window flanked with No on Prop 8 and marriage equality posters.
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