A city official married the first couple in New York City to wed under the state's new law allowing same-sex marriage Sunday.
Phyllis Siegal, 77, and Connie Kopelov, 85, were married in a chapel at the city clerk's office as a crowd of onlookers cheered.
Hundreds of same-sex couples heard the news Friday that they made the cut in the marriage lottery that New York state instituted for Sunday when the state's Marriage Equality Act took effect.
The New York City clerk's office has been flooded with more than 2,600 requests for marriage licenses since the wording on the online application was changed from "Groom and Bride" to "Spouse A and Spouse B." The office could handle less than a third of those requests - gay or straight - on Sunday, according to a press statement the city released earlier in the week. The lottery was set up to allocate 764 slots for couples who want to obtain marriage licenses and/or be married at city clerk's offices on Sunday. If all 764 weddings actually take place on Sunday, it will set a one-day record for the city.
Marcos Chaljub and Freddy Zambrano were married after Siegal and Kopelov. The two tearfully said their vows as friends hovered and snapped pictures. "You're married!" one declared as celebratory hugs were exchanged afterward. Chaljub and Zambrano conducted last-minute preparations Saturday for their wedding, picking up bouquets of wildflowers for their bridesmaids and champagne for a family brunch afterward. The couple has been together for five years.
"I have certain people in my life, they're not totally OK with it, but they accept it, and just the fact they respect us because of that, it's really the most that I can ask for," Chaljub told CNN's Susan Candiotti.
The two have been wearing rings for five years, and said they don't plan to exchange new ones. "We're just going to polish them up and exchange them again," Chaljub said.
New York legalized same-sex marriage in June. The Marriage Equality Act was a priority for Gov. Andrew Cuomo after winning election in November. The law was passed under a Republican-led Senate after days of delays and negotiations between the two parties. New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, herself openly gay, told CNN New York is the place where the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) movement was born, and a place the world looks to.
"All eyes are upon it, and I believe it is going to help propel this movement forward faster than any of the other states have," Quinn said.
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and New Hampshire also allow same-sex marriage, as does the District of Columbia.
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Oh, I believe in Constantine.
Absolutely.
And in Maxwell Perkins.
Why does it bother some guys so much?
My gay friend who is getting married texted me, "I am terrified!"
I texted him back, "I would be more than you are."
Joey I'm not trying to teach "you" anything, I see that you have your mind up that you think there is no God, we may disagree on that I still love you and don't even know you. I don't have to, I love everybody. God is love, He makes me feel love towards others even when they don't love me back. That's the beautiful thing about God. You have never "seen" the wind in your entire life, but you believe its there. Well that's how I am with God, I never saw him in my entire life but I feel him all the time.
Seriously? Some of these couples HAVE been together for 30 years already, and haven't had the benefits you enjoy just because you happen to be a man and a woman. How do you know they're not law-abiding citizens? You're tired of 'hearing about the gay crap'? I'm tired of hearing hate and fear like yours. You will continue to lose this because you continue to want to deny perfectly good people the freedoms that you enjoy( and you'd scream bloody murder over if you'd lost).
You sir, are an ignorant fool.
You spent 30 years together before you got married? Wow, that's... insane, actually, but whatever floats your boat.
Guess what, Randy? There are many, many gay couples who have done the same things (including military service) without the legal protections you and your "str8 wife" have done. Of course, that little bit about your wife makes me think you are a troll, here to stir the schite.
Shut up, retarded redneck. I say you idiots should be sent to an island and be subject to nuclear testing.
@Nick: We may already be on that island..
I agree with you BUT....They still do not have legal rights. Only the state sees the marriage. The federal government denys it.
These people pay more taxes. they do not get spouse's Social security, or a pension. We have come a long way. But still need to fight for ALL rights
Really ? I want you to know something and to be sure that You are destroying yourself your public moral , the moral of your family and the moral of the whole country , you are doing this against the GOD's will , God is my witness when all of you ( gay) will feel the real punishment.Personaly I would eliminate everyone of you with pleasure !