Candy Holmes, left, of Washington, affixes a marriage equality pin to her partner of 14 years, Darlene Garner, on arriving at Superior Court to obtain their marriage licenses after the District of Columbia legalized gay marriage in Washington, on Wednesday, March 3, 2010.
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Darlene Garner, left, has a joyful tear wiped from her face by her partner, Candy Holmes, of Washington, after the couple obtained their marriage license Wednesday, March 3, 2010, the first day possible for gay couples since the District of Columbia legalized gay marriage in Washington.
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Darlene Garner, left, smiles at her partner, Candy Holmes, of Washington, as Holmes is overcome with emotion after the couple obtained their marriage license Wednesday, March 3, 2010, the first day possible for gay couples since the District of Columbia legalized gay marriage in Washington.
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Darlene Garner, left, holds her partner, Candy Holmes, of Washington, as she cries after the couple obtained their marriage license Wednesday, March 3, 2010, the first day possible for gay couples since the District of Columbia legalized gay marriage in Washington.
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Darlene Garner, left, and her partner, Candy Holmes, of Washington, hold roses after the couple obtained their marriage license Wednesday, March 3, 2010, the first day possible for gay couples since the District of Columbia legalized gay marriage in Washington.
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Same-sex marriage becomes legal in D.C.
‘It’s like waking up Christmas morning,’ says one woman waiting in line
updated 12 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - At least 50 same-sex couples were lined up to apply for marriage licenses when city offices opened Wednesday, the day the unions became legal in the nation's capitol.
Cheering erupted from the crowd when the first couple signed in at the city's marriage bureau inside the Moultrie courthouse, just blocks from the U.S. Capitol. Because of a mandatory waiting period of three business days, however, couples won't actually be able to marry in the District of Columbia until March 9.
Court officials have been told to expect up to 200 people. They plan to have five people taking applications instead of the usual two.
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