Maryland Couples Ring In The New Year With Marriage Equality

Same-sex couples were able to legally wed in the state just after the ball dropped.

Image by Patrick Semansky / AP

Shortly after midnight seven couples got married at City Hall in Baltimore, Maryland, which is the first state south of the Mason-Dixon Line to legalize same-sex marriage.

“It’s just so hard to believe it’s happening,” James Scales said just before marrying his partner of 35 years. James and William Tasker were the first couple legally married on Tuesday. Their ceremony was presided over by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

“There is no human institution more sacred than that of the one that you are about to form,” the Mayor said during the ceremony. “True marriage, true marriage, is the dearest of all earthly relationships.”

Darcia Anthony and her partner, Danielle Williams, also rang in the new year with a wedding. Watch both of the couples’ ceremonies below.

Image by Patrick Semansky / AP

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=yY1R7dz4fs8.

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=3QzQWLK7rSc.