BEVERLY HILLS - Two San Fernando Valley women tied a historic knot Monday, becoming one of the first same-sex couples to marry in California under the new state nuptial laws they helped overturn.

The circuslike atmosphere just minutes ahead of their marriage on the steps of the Beverly Hills courthouse bowed to the solemnity of the traditional Jewish ceremony, the presence of several clergy and the reading of Jewish Scripture.

At 5:25 p.m., Robin Tyler and Diane Olson were pronounced "spouses for life in the sight of God, the Jewish community and all people" by Rabbi Denise Eger who married the women in front of some 200 relatives, friends, well-wishers and media news crews.

Opponents of same-sex marriage stood in the background waving signs that cited biblical verses and threats such as "Gay Marriage Will Not Save You on Judgment Day."

Eger praised the couple for "your courage and your strength through these many years of coming to this very place, standing on these courthouse steps, year after year of being denied this right, this civil right, to share your lives, to protect each other with all the rights and responsibilities."

Tyler, 66, and Olson, 54, who live in North Hills, shared the moment of being the first same-sex couple to marry in California with Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, who were married shortly after 5 p.m. in San Francisco by Mayor Gavin Newsom.

Because of their unique roles in lawsuits that led to last

month's Supreme Court decision declaring the ban on gay marriage unconstitutional, the two couples were allowed to marry the day before the state begins to issue marriage licenses to same-sex partners.

"It's our day, Diane," Tyler could be heard telling her spouse as they left a white limousine that had taken them from their Valley home to the steps of the courthouse where many of their legal battles had taken place.

"You bet it is," said Olson. "You bet it is."

The two landmark unions took place as Cardinal Roger Mahony of the Los Angeles Roman Catholic Archdiocese and other opponents of same-sex marriages objected. Opponents, including many clergy, believe marriage should only be between a man and a woman.

On Tuesday, hundreds of same-sex couples are expected to jam courthouses in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other counties applying for marriage licenses, with many of them also marrying that day.

Among those will be actor George Takei, best known for his role as helmsman Hikaru Sulu on "Star Trek," and his partner, Brad Altman. They will help open the wedding-license facility in West Hollywood, where hundreds of couples are expected to line up.

Also on Tuesday, Los Angeles City Councilman Eric Garcetti will officiate at the wedding of two of his former staffers on the South Lawn of City Hall.

But on Monday it was the two early marriages that stole the thunder.

Moments after their wedding became official, a beaming Tyler and Olson stood on the steps of the courthouse with their attorney, Gloria Allred, all of their arms raised in triumph.

Since 2001, the couple had applied for a marriage license at the Beverly Hills courthouse each Valentine's Day and been rejected. On Feb. 12, 2004, two days before their unsuccessful attempt that year, they filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the state's marriage laws banning same-sex marriage.

Similar lawsuits followed from couples in San Francisco, and last month the state Supreme Court ruled that the ban on same-sex-marriage was unconstitutional.

On Monday, guests at Tyler and Olson's wedding included county Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, the only openly gay local elected city official.

Rosendahl was among those holding the chuppah, the canopy under which a Jewish wedding takes place.

"This is a historic event not only for gay people but for America," Rosendahl said in the minutes leading up to the wedding.

Earlier, during the ceremony, one protester yelled, "You're going to burn in hell!" But he was drowned out by loud cheers and applause that marked the couple's tearful exchange of vows and their joint breaking of the glass that is traditional in Jewish weddings.

"It's a great day for tolerance in America," cantor Michael Libow, a friend of the couple, said at 5:01 p.m. as he informed the crowd that Tyler and Olson had just been issued a marriage license, the earliest time allowed under the court ruling.

"But it looks like they're short $5. Does anyone want to make a contribution?"

The apparent joke lightened the expectant mood. Moments later, the bridal couple and their lawyer emerged from the courthouse, waving a copy of their marriage license.

Tyler is a former comedian and national gay-rights activist who organized three national gay-rights movement marches on Washington, D.C. Olson is the granddaughter of Culbert Levy Olson, governor of California from 1938 to 1942.

In her wedding remarks, Eger said she prayed that the gay and lesbian community "find a moment of hope, and that all people of good will will find a moment of hope in what we're doing here today. That love does win, that justice does win, that hope does win and that commitment and honor does win."

Libow serenaded Tyler and Olson with "Someone to Watch Over Me," and finally at 5:15 p.m. Tyler said, "I do," and Olson responded with, "Absolutely, I do!"

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