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Gays form line at altar to be first to wed in NY
(Reuters) - Gay and lesbian couples across New York are gearing up to wed starting on Sunday, when a law that makes New York the sixth U.S. state to allow same-sex marriage comes into effect.
Following is a look at laws on gay marriage in the United States and what will happen in New York on Sunday:
* As of Sunday, same-sex marriage is allowed in six of the 50 U.S. states -- Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont -- and the District of Columbia. The most populous among them is New York, which approved same-sex marriage on June 24.
* Four states -- Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois and New Jersey -- have approved gay civil unions. Gay marriage is specifically banned in 39 states.
* Courts and state legislatures have legalized gay marriage in the United States but popular votes have consistently opposed same-sex unions, most recently in Maine.
* Arizona is the only state where voters rejected a constitutional ban on gay marriage, in 2006, but they approved a similar measure in 2008.
* The first legal same-sex marriages in the United States took place in Massachusetts in 2004.
* In New York City, 823 same-sex and opposite-sex couples are expected to be married on Sunday. Same-sex couples plan to wed in various ceremonies across the state on Sunday.
* President Barack Obama's administration in February announced it will no longer defend a 15-year-old U.S. law that defined marriage as between a man and a woman. A federal judge in Boston had found the law was unconstitutional.
(Reporting by Basil Katz in New York; editing by Mohammad Zargham)
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Mary C. Pugh, registered marriage officiant for the city of New York, will marry you for free on Sunday from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. (longer if there are a lot of couples who need me) I have performed over 500 same sex events and have been shown on NBC, CBS, ABC news programs. I also married Rachel and Rachel on the Tyra Banks show.
Come to Washington Square Park AFTER you get your license and a waiver on the 24 hr. waiting period.
Look for a petite woman in a Purple robe with a lavendar stole. Click to see how to get your license: http://www.cityclerk.nyc.gov/html/marriage/license.shtml
Bring your license and two witnesses. (small weddings only- have to have fewer than 20 people or need a permit)
Sí, hablo español
http://www.ct-jp.com.testimonials.aspx
Questions? Call 203 838 1038
http://kimberlycoccagnia.blogspot.com/2011/07/july-24th-2011-historic-day-in-new-york.html
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