Dozens of gay couples rushed to Minneapolis City Hall early Thursday morning, lining the streets to take advantage of the state’s new same-sex marriage law.
At least 42 couples were set to be married by Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and other Hennepin County judges before dawn, The Associated Press reported. Ceremonies were actually set to begin at the stroke of midnight in several Minnesota sites — Minneapolis City Hall, St. Paul’s Como Park, Mall of America’s Chapel of Love and at numerous county courthouses.
An estimated 5,000 gay couples are expected to take advantage of the state’s new right-to-marry law in its first year of implementation, AP reported.
“I don’t think either of us ever thought we’d see this day,” said Mike Bolin, of Richfield, just before he married his partner, Jay Resch, in the AP report. “We met at low points in both of our lives and to have arrived at this point — there’s going to be a lot of tears.”
Minnesota became the 12th state to allow gay marriage. Rhode Island’s law allowing for same-sex marriage ceremonies also went into effect on Thursday, with several morning ceremonies planned. It’s the 13th state to pass a gay marriage law — not counting Washington, D.C.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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