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Same-Sex Couples Married En Masse Just Moments After New Jersey Becomes Legal
http://www.businessinsider.com/same-sex-couples-married-en-masse-just-moments-after-new-jersey-becomes-legal-2013-10
?maxX=480
NEWARK, New Jersey (Reuters) - Wedding bells rang for the first time for same-sex couples in New Jersey just after midnight on Monday when the state became the 14th in the nation to legalize gay marriage.
Newark Mayor Cory Booker, a Democrat due to leave office this month after his election to the U.S. Senate last week, opened City Hall at midnight to perform some of the first ceremonies. Mayors in Lambertville, Red Bank and Jersey City did likewise.
The marriages took place after New Jersey's Supreme Court ruled on Friday against a request by Republican Governor Chris Christie to freeze a lower court ruling in favor of gay marriage until the top court could hear the state's appeal in January and issue a final decision.
Moments after the state's highest court denied Christie's request, New Jersey municipalities began accepting applications for marriage licenses from same-sex couples.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/same-sex-couples-married-en-masse-just-moments-after-new-jersey-becomes-legal-2013-10#ixzz2iM1XooD6
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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GAY_MARRIAGE_NJ?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-10-21-06-46-59
Beth Asaro, left, and Joanne Schailey celebrate after exchangeing vows to become the first same-sex couple married in Lambertville, N.J. history at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Oct. 21, 2013 in Lambertville, N.J. Asaro and Schailey hold the distinction of being the first couple to enter into a civil union in the state, when that law took effect in 2007. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. (AP) -- Gay couples in communities across New Jersey exchanged marriage vows in the first minutes of Monday, taking advantage of a court ruling that compelled the state to become the 14th in the nation to recognize same-sex nuptials.
In Lambertville, Beth Asaro and Joanne Schailey smiled through a ceremony in the same crowded municipal courtroom where almost seven years ago they became one of the first couples in the state joined in a civil union.
"We remained optimistic and hopeful that we would be able to gather together to do the right thing, the just thing, and see our two friends get married," Mayor Dave DelVecchio, who led both the 2007 ceremony and Monday's, said before leading the couple of 27 years through their vows as their 13-year-old daughter served as the flower girl.
"We're floating on air," Asaro, in a salmon pink suit, said afterward. "It's like winning the Super Bowl," said Schailey, who wore a black pant suit.
Beth Asaro, left, and Joanne Schailey celebrate after exchangeing vows to become the first same-sex couple married in Lambertville, N.J. history at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Oct. 21, 2013 in Lambertville, N.J. Asaro and Schailey hold the distinction of being the first couple to enter into a civil union in the state, when that law took effect in 2007. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. (AP) -- Gay couples in communities across New Jersey exchanged marriage vows in the first minutes of Monday, taking advantage of a court ruling that compelled the state to become the 14th in the nation to recognize same-sex nuptials.
In Lambertville, Beth Asaro and Joanne Schailey smiled through a ceremony in the same crowded municipal courtroom where almost seven years ago they became one of the first couples in the state joined in a civil union.
"We remained optimistic and hopeful that we would be able to gather together to do the right thing, the just thing, and see our two friends get married," Mayor Dave DelVecchio, who led both the 2007 ceremony and Monday's, said before leading the couple of 27 years through their vows as their 13-year-old daughter served as the flower girl.
"We're floating on air," Asaro, in a salmon pink suit, said afterward. "It's like winning the Super Bowl," said Schailey, who wore a black pant suit.
