Largest NM county gives same-sex licenses

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Dozens of gay couples gathered at a plaza in New Mexico's biggest city Tuesday to hear the words many once thought they would never hear: "With the power finally vested in me by the state of New Mexico, I now pronounce you married."

The ceremony came just a few hours after the county clerk opened her door to a line of more than 100 people waiting to get same-sex marriage licenses following an Albuquerque judge's declaration Monday that gay marriage was legal. Two other counties began issuing marriage licenses to gay couples last week, and three more said they planned to do the same.

The ruling by state district Judge Alan Malott came on the heels of a similar decision in Santa Fe and the decision by the county clerk in the southern New Mexico county of Dona Ana week to recognize same-sex couples. That means residents in the state's three largest counties can easily get same-sex marriage licenses locally.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20130827/US--Gay.Marriage-New.Mexico/

[GandD 5,966]

Moments later, the county exploded.