Freedom - to marry - I cherish your name ©DR

(Blogmensgo, July 30th, 2011) The five district councils in New York have exceptionally opened Sunday, July 24, 2011 from 0830 to 1630 and have conducted 659 weddings, including number of marriages between gays and lesbians. That Sunday, in fact, marked the entry into force of the law “marriage equality” throughout the State of New York. The exact proportion of marriages between same sex is not formally specified at the time of writing this.

Never before has the City of New York celebrated so many weddings in one day. The previous record, was 621 marriages on Valentine’s Day of 2003.

2,661 couples had shown interest in marrying on July 24th so it was decided that a lottery draw would be held to give everybody a fair chance (See our Article of July 20th).  Out of the 2,661, only 823 couples actually registered for the lottery so Mayor Bloomberg decided to push the limit up and marry all of the couples that had registered.  On the actual day, only 659 couples actually showed up (see below).

Among the 659 married couples, 22 U.S. states – or 23 states if we include Washington, DC – were represented, 511 couples had at least one spouse living in New York City and 484 couples were married by judges who volunteered to officiate on this very special day.

Wedding halls remain open all week from 830am to 630pm, the municipal team felt that the tide rise is probably not complete. On Sunday, July 31, 2011 the records should also be marked with a huge collective wedding ceremony planned in Central Park. The statistics will therefore change significantly in the coming eight days.

Niagara Falls, it's kitsch. But not in winter (it is frozen) or summer (too hot) or late October (too foggy). © DR.

The first same-sex marriages were not celebrated in the city of New York, but in other localities of the State of New York. Thus at midnight (or midnight), Sunday, July 24, after eleven years, Kitty Lambert, 54, and Cheryl Rudd, 53, were married in the city of Niagara Falls with the falls specially illuminated in the colors of the rainbow sky.

Comment. Why only 659 marriages? Allow Philca to venture four hypotheses.

First, some homosexual or heterosexual couples have the wrong hall, confusing Brooklyn and Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens. Second, some homosexual or heterosexual couples have misunderstood the schedule and arrived after the close of business. Third, some homosexual or heterosexual couples have finally decided to postpone marriage to avoid the rush. Fourth, some heterosexual couples have decided not to marry in the vicinity of gays and lesbians.

New York and Niagara Falls. Two blessed places of tourism that should not delay or break countless couples of gays and lesbians wishing to marry. Tourism professionals are already rubbing their hands in glee.

Useful detail: the illumination of Niagara Falls is not specific to gay marriage, as evidenced by the above photo taken there over twenty-five years. I recommend that brides and grooms to go in mid-September, that is to say, after the hot summer and before the mists of the late autumn.

I may also suggest, in the same State, three places with names very evocative: Lake Placid, Syracuse and Rome. Yes! gay marriage is legal in Rome …

This article has been translated and amended from the original posted on our French Blog.  Click here to view the original.

Matt & Philca / MensGo