Same-sex marriage comes to Florida!
'We feel ecstatic, excited,' woman declares as gay marriage becomes Florida reality
==========
After months of court battles and delays, today is wedding day for same-sex couples across Florida.
In Central Florida, it'll be marked by big celebrations.
First, though, couples have to get marriage licenses.
Roughly 50 gathered outside of the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando this morning.
A line of couples swerved around the third floor as many waited for a moment that to some seemed to good to be true.
"Until the last minute, we thought this wasn't going to happen," said Paul Hamiric, who arrived with his partner before work. "We never thought this would happen in our lifetime. It was a dream I gave up on when I was 12."
As couples left with their licenses, many waving rainbow-colored flags, the courthouse erupted in applause each time.
Some people came just as spectators, watching the happy couples and taking pictures.
Among the first couples to get their license was Natalie Savage and Virginia Monjaras, who lined up at 2:30 a.m.
"We feel ecstatic, excited," Savage yelled.
By 8 a.m, the line had faded and just a few couples trickled in.
Scores of people gathered at 11 p.m. at the Osceola County Courthouse, where Clerk Armando Ramirez became one of the first to hand out marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
An estimated 50 protesters gathered outside, some holding placards.
One held by Barbara Jones, 68, of Kissimmee, read "Marriage = 1Man + 1 Woman." She opposes same-sex marriage but is not angry, she said.
"No need to be angry. God loves us all," she said.
In a brief speech, U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson described the event as "one of the most special of special occasions. ... Tonight we see the fulfillment of the real American dream."
As the clock ticked down to midnight, the crowd counted down the seconds, led by Grayson.
"Ten, nine, eight."
There was a big cheer at midnight then Ramirez said, "As far as I'm concerned, a despicable law is dead."
And the weddings began.
Osceola County Commissioner Cheryl Grieb and her partner, Patricia Daugherty, were the first, promising to take the other "to be my spouse, my best friend and my one true love."
Ramirez then said, in his not-perfect English, "I now pronounce you happy married couple."
Grayson, in a tux, served as ring bearer.
After Grieb and Daugherty, the courthouse weddings came tick-tick-tick, with couples getting married simultaneously in two rooms.
Before the courthouse closed shortly after 2 a.m., concluding its one-day-only special gig, 28 same-sex couples had picked up marriage licenses, 19 had gotten married.
Smiling couples, just hitched, emerged to find five happy, silly drag queens who call themselves the Orlando Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, cheering and blowing bubbles.
Michael Watson, 40, and Chad Bayzman, 36, of Winter Garden were one of the first to marry.
"We're going to celebrate all day tomorrow," Watson said. "We're going to Disney. We really are."
One of the day's biggest events in Central Florida will be at Orlando City Hall at 9 a.m., where Mayor Buddy Dyer will perform a mass wedding of 40 couples.
It's all happening now because a Tallahassee federal judge overturned Florida's ban on same-sex marriages, something added to the state constitution in 2008 after 62 percent of voters approved it.
U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled Aug. 21 that the ban violated the U.S. Constitution by denying gays and lesbians a fundamental right: the right to marry.
He then temporarily stayed his ruling but set a time cap: It would go into effect 90 days after the U.S. Supreme Court weighed in.
The high court did that Oct. 6, making Jan. 6 - today - the day gays and lesbians could get married in Florida.
On Monday, however, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Sarah Zabel ruled that same-sex marriages could begin immediately in the one county over which she has jurisdiction - Miami-Dade - and they did, making Florida the 36th state where that is legal.
Hinkle's ruling also created a second major change in the law: It requires Florida to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries.
Another big celebration is planned for Orlando at 6 p.m. today: An estimated 20 couples plan to get married in a mass wedding ceremony at The Center, a community center for Orlando-area gays, lesbians and transgender people.
source wants to be partying in orlando instead of working today!
***
and because where would a great story like this be without fucking lake county keepin' it classy...
***
As gay marriage begins, Lake clerk calls end to courthouse weddings
===
Lake County Clerk of Courts Neil Kelly's office is ending courthouse weddings in light of a court order to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples starting Tuesday.
Last week, clerks of court in Duval, Clay and Baker counties announced they would stop performing courthouse weddings after some employees polled said they didn't feel comfortable participating in the ceremonies.
Lake Senior Chief Deputy Clerk Gary Cooney said employees here weren't asked about their personal beliefs in reaching the decision. While the clerk's office has long offered the officiating service to heterosexual couples for about $30, doing so for same-sex partners could put them at legal risk, Cooney said.
"We are required to issue marriage licenses, we aren't required to perform ceremonies," Cooney said. "There is a prohibition in the constitution for recognizing and being a part of same-sex marriage." As long as that language remains in the constitution, Cooney said, Lake will not offer the service.
okay, source, whatever you say.
==========
After months of court battles and delays, today is wedding day for same-sex couples across Florida.
In Central Florida, it'll be marked by big celebrations.
First, though, couples have to get marriage licenses.
Roughly 50 gathered outside of the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando this morning.
A line of couples swerved around the third floor as many waited for a moment that to some seemed to good to be true.
"Until the last minute, we thought this wasn't going to happen," said Paul Hamiric, who arrived with his partner before work. "We never thought this would happen in our lifetime. It was a dream I gave up on when I was 12."
As couples left with their licenses, many waving rainbow-colored flags, the courthouse erupted in applause each time.
Some people came just as spectators, watching the happy couples and taking pictures.
Among the first couples to get their license was Natalie Savage and Virginia Monjaras, who lined up at 2:30 a.m.
"We feel ecstatic, excited," Savage yelled.
By 8 a.m, the line had faded and just a few couples trickled in.
Scores of people gathered at 11 p.m. at the Osceola County Courthouse, where Clerk Armando Ramirez became one of the first to hand out marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
An estimated 50 protesters gathered outside, some holding placards.
One held by Barbara Jones, 68, of Kissimmee, read "Marriage = 1Man + 1 Woman." She opposes same-sex marriage but is not angry, she said.
"No need to be angry. God loves us all," she said.
In a brief speech, U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson described the event as "one of the most special of special occasions. ... Tonight we see the fulfillment of the real American dream."
As the clock ticked down to midnight, the crowd counted down the seconds, led by Grayson.
"Ten, nine, eight."
There was a big cheer at midnight then Ramirez said, "As far as I'm concerned, a despicable law is dead."
And the weddings began.
Osceola County Commissioner Cheryl Grieb and her partner, Patricia Daugherty, were the first, promising to take the other "to be my spouse, my best friend and my one true love."
Ramirez then said, in his not-perfect English, "I now pronounce you happy married couple."
Grayson, in a tux, served as ring bearer.
After Grieb and Daugherty, the courthouse weddings came tick-tick-tick, with couples getting married simultaneously in two rooms.
Before the courthouse closed shortly after 2 a.m., concluding its one-day-only special gig, 28 same-sex couples had picked up marriage licenses, 19 had gotten married.
Smiling couples, just hitched, emerged to find five happy, silly drag queens who call themselves the Orlando Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, cheering and blowing bubbles.
Michael Watson, 40, and Chad Bayzman, 36, of Winter Garden were one of the first to marry.
"We're going to celebrate all day tomorrow," Watson said. "We're going to Disney. We really are."
One of the day's biggest events in Central Florida will be at Orlando City Hall at 9 a.m., where Mayor Buddy Dyer will perform a mass wedding of 40 couples.
It's all happening now because a Tallahassee federal judge overturned Florida's ban on same-sex marriages, something added to the state constitution in 2008 after 62 percent of voters approved it.
U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled Aug. 21 that the ban violated the U.S. Constitution by denying gays and lesbians a fundamental right: the right to marry.
He then temporarily stayed his ruling but set a time cap: It would go into effect 90 days after the U.S. Supreme Court weighed in.
The high court did that Oct. 6, making Jan. 6 - today - the day gays and lesbians could get married in Florida.
On Monday, however, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Sarah Zabel ruled that same-sex marriages could begin immediately in the one county over which she has jurisdiction - Miami-Dade - and they did, making Florida the 36th state where that is legal.
Hinkle's ruling also created a second major change in the law: It requires Florida to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries.
Another big celebration is planned for Orlando at 6 p.m. today: An estimated 20 couples plan to get married in a mass wedding ceremony at The Center, a community center for Orlando-area gays, lesbians and transgender people.
source wants to be partying in orlando instead of working today!
***
and because where would a great story like this be without fucking lake county keepin' it classy...
***
As gay marriage begins, Lake clerk calls end to courthouse weddings
===
Lake County Clerk of Courts Neil Kelly's office is ending courthouse weddings in light of a court order to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples starting Tuesday.
Last week, clerks of court in Duval, Clay and Baker counties announced they would stop performing courthouse weddings after some employees polled said they didn't feel comfortable participating in the ceremonies.
Lake Senior Chief Deputy Clerk Gary Cooney said employees here weren't asked about their personal beliefs in reaching the decision. While the clerk's office has long offered the officiating service to heterosexual couples for about $30, doing so for same-sex partners could put them at legal risk, Cooney said.
"We are required to issue marriage licenses, we aren't required to perform ceremonies," Cooney said. "There is a prohibition in the constitution for recognizing and being a part of same-sex marriage." As long as that language remains in the constitution, Cooney said, Lake will not offer the service.
okay, source, whatever you say.