AP: 666c036a-7631-4e52-9b51-f03b16b738f6
Retired U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Nancy Monahan, right, wears her dress uniform and holds her marriage license as her soon-to-be bride Deb Needham wipes away tears as they wait at Seattle City Hall to become among the first gay couples to legally wed in the state on Sunday. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle holds first same-sex weddings

BY MyNorthwest.com  on December 7, 2012 @ 2:47 pm (Updated: 9:14 pm - 12/9/12 )

More Photos

See all photos
It felt like a "royal wedding," said one same-sex couple as they left Seattle City Hall Sunday.

They were met by hundreds of supporters who lined the stairs and streets to congratulate some of the first gay and lesbian couples to get married in Washington state.

"Everyone is really happy and excited," said Laura DeMarco, who handed newlyweds pink and yellow roses as they came outside. "People are blowing bubbles, there are bells and everyone's smiling. Everyone is just really happy to be here and to watch these people get married today."

City Hall hosted 140 weddings Sunday.

Sixteen judges volunteered their time and performed ceremonies from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the grand lobby, which was bustling in preparation for the event early in the morning.

Volunteers rushed to put final touches on a reception area and five alters, which were decorated and designed by local artists Jennifer Zeyl and Celeste Cooning.

Each ceremony lasted roughly 15 minutes.

Keith Bacon and Corianton Hale, who have been together for six years, struggled to hold back tears as they read their vows to each other.

"We're elated, excited, and super-proud," Hale said afterward.

The couple was congratulated by Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, whose wife was also present and burst into tears as Hale and Bacon were pronounced "husband and husband."

"We're a stronger city when people can marry who they want and be who they are," Mayor McGinn told reporters.

He declared Sunday "Marriage Equality Day" in the city of Seattle.

Crowds gathered on City Hall's Fourth Avenue Plaza and enjoyed food trucks and coffee throughout the afternoon. For those who could not attend, the city offered a live stream of the event, photos and personal stories in the Seattle blog, and Twitter updates with the hashtag: #MEdayWA.

A large public reception was planned at the Paramount Theatre from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

On Wednesday, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law a measure legalizing same-sex marriage in Washington state. The law took effect Thursday. King County and Thurston County opened their auditors' offices shortly after midnight Wednesday to accommodate those who wanted to be among the first to get their licenses.

Because the state has a three-day waiting period, couples had to wait until Sunday to get married.

The law does not require religious organizations or churches to perform marriages, and will not subject churches to penalties if they don't marry gay or lesbian couples.

Married same-sex couples will still be denied access to federal pensions, health insurance and other government benefits available to heterosexual couples because the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA, bars federal recognition of gay unions.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday said it will take up gay marriage sometime during the current term. Several pending cases challenge the federal benefit provision of DOMA, and a separate appeal asks the justices to decide whether federal courts were correct in striking down California's Proposition 8, the amendment that outlawed gay marriage after it had been approved by courts in the nation's largest state.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

MyNorthwest.com, Staff report
The team that brings you MyNorthwest.com
Related:
More Local News
Top Stories
MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (38)


  • Add A Comment

  • don over taxed wrote...
    Marriage
    December 9, 2012 5:54 pm
    The husband is in the uniform.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • serzsa wrote...
    this one's easy, indeed,
    December 9, 2012 6:11 pm
    but what about other ones? Where they're dressed exactly the same? Sporting those same parts down below?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    I'm amazed
    December 9, 2012 7:09 pm
    At the negative posts on this issue. My guess is that the posters who disagree with gay marriage do not have a friend or relative who is gay. It's not a choice. A gay person can choose to live his or her life alone or choose to have a companion for life like hetero marriages. There will be separations and divorces just like any relationship. You people who wonder which one is the "man" are living under rocks. There is no difference in gay relationships, get it? Probably not, but maybe someday you homophobic people will see the light.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • serzsa wrote...
    from under the rock...
    December 9, 2012 7:18 pm
    so what is really a purpose of the family? Originally secured by marriage?

    Put another way for you, on the surface person, can the gay "family" naturally procreate?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    So if a family can't procreate
    December 9, 2012 7:32 pm
    They should not be allowed to marry?

    A guy needs to prove he ain't shooting blanks?

    A woman needs to prove her fertility?

    No marriages for post menopausal.

    None for guys with ED.

    Those guys need to prove they can get it up before the license is issued.

    The ladies need to prove the can conceive.

    What an utterly ridiculous "argument".

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • serzsa wrote...
    if a normal family can't procreate
    December 9, 2012 7:40 pm
    that's in one or another sense is abnormal. Gay family by definition is abnormal therefore. As long as it's recognized, I'm fine with it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Snooze fest...
    December 9, 2012 7:40 pm
    It is so boring reading about a bunch of homohaters lamenting about things they can't change. You people think about gay people way more than gay people think about you. That's so sad... :(
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    serza
    December 9, 2012 7:55 pm
    There are enough people on this planet already. Gay couples adopt unwanted children far more than straight couples, and provide them with a loving home and a chance to get a good education and have a family. I wonder if some of these posters know what year this is.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • serzsa wrote...
    It's 2012.
    December 9, 2012 8:18 pm
    And you're welcome.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    A J
    December 9, 2012 7:58 pm
    Either shave off that stupid hair on your face or put up a picture of your mentor, the rocket scientist, von Braun.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Danutdlp wrote...
    To all Homo Lovers
    December 9, 2012 8:18 pm
    How stupid can you be to not see the logic in this simple argument I keep stating on these articles. Doesn't NATURE teach us that a penis and penis or a vagina and vagina simply don't go together? It is sick, disgusting and just wrong. Even if you don't believe in God or the Bible, somehow we were created on this earth and whoever created us (in my opinion God) intended a penis for a vagina And a vagina for a penis. IT'S SIMPLE Oh and to people saying that people like me most likely never knew gays personally, you are wrong... I've worked with MANY gays and have got to know them personally. The truth is that most of them are kind people but that is no excuse for what they do...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    It is so ironic that you keep quoting nature as if your
    December 9, 2012 8:49 pm
    rudimentary understanding of it excuses your idiotic views. Research has shown that homosexuality is a normal and natural variation. There are COUNTLESS examples of homosexuality in nature. Your "this fits here theory" notwithstanding homosexuality is quite natural. Only humans have an issue with it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Danutdlp wrote...
    @gaymarried
    December 9, 2012 10:43 pm
    Well animals eat their own barf and crap. Why don't you do that as well? Animals don't have a soul or the ability to reason as a human does. Why is the "pretty soon I'll be able to marry my dog" subject so scorned by people supporting gay marriage...? One day it will be on the ballots, even if 100 years from now. The way our society is going down the drain, I wouldn't be at all surprised.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Pretend there are lots of pictures.
    December 10, 2012 7:50 am
    This is Adam, he is a male adult capable of making his own decision. This is Mary. She is a female adult capable of making her own decision. This is Steve, he is a male adult capable of making his own decision. Adam could marry Mary because each are capable of understanding and giving their consent. Adam and Steve could get married because they are capable of understanding and giving their consent. This is a toaster. It isn't capable of making decisions at all. It is unable to consent to anything. It does not understand what marriage is and is incapable of signing a contract and even if it could sign it it wouldn't understand it. Adam can't marry his toaster because his toaster can't give consent and Adam can't give consent for the toaster. Now substitute toaster for any ridiculous thing you can think up.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    Over 1500 species are gay
    December 9, 2012 8:53 pm
    and only one of them has problems dealing with it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }