He kept quiet about being gay when he joined the Santa Rosa Police Department.

But it didn't feel right. So Chris Mahurin came out, and was surprised by the response.

"Everyone was OK about it; actually, really wonderful," he said. "I've never heard anything negative on the job."

It'sbeen nearly four decades since a pivotal moment in the gay rightsmovement, a riot that developed when police raided the gay New York barStonewall Inn in 1969, exposing deep-seated tensions between police andthe gay community.

That was well before Mahurin, 25, and San Rafael Police Officer Alex Holm, 25, were born.

Butit was on the mind of at least one guest at their wedding Fridayevening-- a ceremony at Paradise Ridge Winery in Santa Rosa thatsymbolized the changing views on gay rights and police stereotypes.

"Weare in a wonderful new world," said Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-SanFrancisco, watching the nervous couple as they posed for weddingphotos. "This is the future."

Leno, 56, who is also gay, callshimself "a Stonewall baby." Together with San Francisco Mayor GavinNewsom, he has been pushing for legalization of gay marriage.

Heofficiated the wedding Friday, his first since the state SupremeCourt's historic ruling making the union, and hundreds of others thisweek, legal.

It's been a long time coming, Leno said. Hissame-sex marriage bill was twice passed by the state Legislature andtwice vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwar-zenegger, who said it was up to thecourts or the people to decide the issue.

When the couple bookedthe winery site last fall to commit their union and wrote a letterasking Leno to oversee it, they had no idea the court would issue itsruling by their date.

It made the day all the more special, Mahurin said, because "we get to start our lives at the start of this big moment."

Fellow Santa Rosa Officer Marlee Wellington, 34, and San Rafael Officer Buffy Paxson, 34, were part of the wedding.

Lastweek, some of Mahurin's fellow officers helped taste-test winetruffles. They settled on the flavors syrah and cabernet, placed intiny white boxes on each of the 120 plates.

The Santa Rosa PoliceDepartment is facing controversy, including the recent dismissal ofCapt. James Mitchel amid personnel allegations including discriminationagainst a gay officer.

But Wellington said she's been impressedwith the support that her friend Mahurin has received in thedepartment, "from control officers all the way up to the chief."

Mahurinsaid he didn't know Mitchel personally. But, he said, Mitchel did know"I was gay, and he didn't have a problem with me."

He heard hurtful anti-gay comments in school and believes misperceptions come from a lack of understanding.

"Forme, it's about words. I refer to him just as 'Alex,' " Mahurin said."People realize my arguments with my partner are the same as theirs,our relationship is the same, we all have the same happinesses."

That'show his father, Mack Mahurin, 59, of Petaluma, sees it, too. "I don'tthink he could have picked a better partner," he said. "They're veryhappy."

At 19, Holm flew to Santa Rosa from Madison, Wis., for acousin's wedding, and never left. A week ago, his mother and stepfatherflew to Santa Rosa to help with the wedding.

"It's just a dreamcome true," said his mother, Claire Ann Boyce. "It makes me feel likethis generation is on its way to have what everyone should have."

Holm brings Mahurin to his department's Christmas parties and baseball games.

On Friday, the couple waited atop a flight of stairs. Holm wiped away a rush of tears and gripped Mahurin's hand.

Theywalked down the aisle, together, to Michael Buble's song "Home." Andwith two "I do's," Leno pronounced them "spouses for life."

Theyare now legal spouses, though they still worry about a constitutionalamendment on the Nov. 4 ballot that if passed could end their equalstanding with married heterosexuals.

But Leno, who was alsoraised in Wisconsin, believes that as long as people continue seeinghappy couples like Mahurin and Holm marry throughout the summer, theballot measure will be defeated.

"And then we'll turn a page of history," he said.