Gay and lesbian couples in the Kansas
City area began exchanging vows on Friday after a federal judge
struck down Missouri's ban on gay marriage as unconstitutional.
The first wedding happened almost by
accident.
After hearing that gay
couples were marrying in St. Louis, John Kenny Rodricks and
Robert Gann went to the Jackson County courthouse to apply for a
marriage license, not realizing that the order which paved the way
for marriage equality in St. Louis did not apply statewide.
The couple was turned away.
But later in the day Jackson County
announced that it would immediately begin issuing marriage licenses
to gay couples after a federal judge struck down the ban in a
separate case.
(Related: Federal
judge strikes down Missouri's gay marriage ban.)
Moments later, Rodricks and Gann were
married at the Jackson County courthouse.
“We said, 'Well, we're not leaving
without a wedding license today,' and we sat downstairs in the
recorder of deeds office and we didn't move,” Rodricks
told ABC affiliate KMBC.
U.S. District Judge Ortrie D. Smith
stayed his ruling pending an appeal, but Jackson County officials
acted independently.