King County, which includes Seattle, on
Thursday announced it had broken its record for most marriage
licenses issued in a day.
Officials opened their doors at 12:01AM
Thursday, the first day a gay marriage law went into effect.
King County Executive Dow Constantine
was on hand to sign the first marriage license.
The Olympian reported that
couples got in line the evening before and that volunteers serenaded
and distributed roses to those waiting in line.
“Tonight you are making history,”
Constantine said to the first group of couples at a special midnight
ceremony. “Not only our legislators but the people of this state
have said every person is entitled to equal treatment. This advances
our law in the state of Washington, and brings us one step closer to
that first 'self-evident' truth announced by our nation's founders:
That all are created equal.”
The first couple to receive a marriage
license were Jane Abbott Lighty, 77, and Pete-e Peterson, 85, of West
Seattle. (The video is embedded on this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)
Roughly three hours after opening, King
County tweeted that it had issued 122 licenses, breaking its record
for most licenses in a day.
Washington's three-day waiting period
means the state's first weddings won't begin until Sunday. Seattle
City Hall will open for 5 hours on Sunday to begin celebrating what
are expected to be the state's first gay weddings.