First marriage licenses issued to Maryland same-sex couples

Nancy Eddy, 34, left, and Jessie Weber, 30, who live in Charles Village, are among the first same-sex couples in Maryland to receive a marriage license. They display their license in the Mitchell Courthouse.

Even before pressing the elevator button to the sixth floor of the courthouse, Jessie Weber and Nancy Eddy were grinning so broadly that fellow passengers guessed their destination: the marriage license office.

“I’ll marry you today,” a Baltimore circuit judge happily told the two women, who were among the first same-sex couples to get a marriage license on Thursday, the first day they became available under a new Maryland law upheld by voters in November.

Actually, same-sex couples have to wait until Jan. 1 to wed, when the law expanding marriage rights to gays and lesbians takes effect. But an opinion by Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler gave Circuit Court clerks the option of issuing postdated licenses starting Thursday, when Gov. Martin O’Malley officially confirmed the passage of the same-sex marriage referendum along with other election results.

While Weber, 30, and Eddy, 34, had already affirmed their partnership this summer before 150 invited guests, getting the license to marry proved to be an emotional experience. There were hugs and happy tears, and pictures with the court staff who processed their applications.

“It’s important from a legal standpoint, to have the protections of marriage. But even more than that, it’s affirming to be recognized by the state,” said Weber, a lawyer. “Our ceremony was with our community, our family, our friends, but this feels like being with the entire state. So this is really special.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/breaking/bs-md-gay-marriage-licenses-20121206,0,1379800.story