Hundreds of gay weddings as law kicks in

2012-12-10 08:06

Retired US Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Nancy Monahan, right, wears her dress uniform as she leans to kiss her soon-to-be bride Deb Needham while they wait at Seattle City Hall to become among the first gay couples to legally wed in the state,

Los Angeles - Hundreds of same-sex couples flocked to get married in the northwest state of Washington on Sunday, the first day possible after the state approved gay marriage in a referendum in November.

At the Seattle city hall, a parade of couples streamed through - to the cheers and music of a crowd that had gathered on the rainy day to celebrate the advance for gay rights.

Around 140 weddings were expected on Sunday at the Seattle city hall, but Mayor Mike McGinn said the final tally could end up being higher.

"We're ahead of schedule here at City Hall - we can take 10 more couples. If you want to marry here, check in at standby on 5th Ave," the mayor tweeted on Sunday afternoon.

He also tweeted to thank Balkan brass band Zirkonium Orkestar "for serenading newlyweds as they come down the stairs".

According to local newspaper the Seattle Times, more than 800 couples statewide got marriage licenses on Thursday, the first day the law came into effect.

Stronger relationship

With a state-mandated three-day waiting period to have a wedding, Sunday was therefore the first day ceremonies could take place.

Like several parts of the state, King County, which includes Seattle, started officiating marriages as soon as the clock struck midnight.

Among the many couples who paraded through the Seattle city hall were Robin and Danielle, who did not give their last names.

"We renewed our vows today," Robin said via webcam, wearing, like her wife, a white jacket with a rose in her lapel.

"We have a stronger than ever relationship now, recognised across the state, hopefully across the country at some point."

"We feel really good about it today," she added.

Step forward

Governor Chris Gregoire, a Democrat, first signed a law legalising gay marriage in February, but opponents forced it into a referendum.

Voters approved the law on election day on 6 November, by a 52 to 48% margin.

"Thank you Washington state for giving all of our deserving families equality and respect," tweeted Governor Chris Gregoire, a Democrat, on Thursday.

The northeastern state of Maine and the mid-Atlantic state of Maryland also voted in favour of laws allowing same-sex marriage on election day, joining just six other states and the District of Columbia that had previously legalised the practice.

Dow Constantine, the top official in Kings County, cheered the law on Thursday when the state began issuing marriage licenses.

"We're taking another step forward as a county, as a state, as a society, as a nation," he said.

- SAPA