NEWS
Same-sex couples get married in Washington
![Claudia Gorbman, left, and partner Pam Keeley display their marriage license on Dec. 6 in Seattle. Dozens of same-sex couples obtained their marriage licenses in Washington state, hours after Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a voter-approved law legalizing gay marriage.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/gay12061200001-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Claudia Gorbman, left, and partner Pam Keeley display their marriage license on Dec. 6 in Seattle. Dozens of same-sex couples obtained their marriage licenses in Washington state, hours after Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a voter-approved law legalizing gay marriage.
Elaine Thompson, AP![King County Executive Dow Constantine holds up the first marriage license issued to a same-sex couple, Jane Abbott Lighty and Pete-e Petersen, in Seattle. The state's biggest county opened the doors to its auditor's office just after midnight to start distributing marriage licenses.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/gay12061200002-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=374&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
King County Executive Dow Constantine holds up the first marriage license issued to a same-sex couple, Jane Abbott Lighty and Pete-e Petersen, in Seattle. The state's biggest county opened the doors to its auditor's office just after midnight to start distributing marriage licenses.
Elaine Thompson, AP![Jane Abbott Lighty, left, and her partner, Pete-e Petersen, take an oath while receiving the first marriage license for a same-sex couple in King County. Standing behind Lighty and Petersen are Brendon K. Taga, left, and Jesse Page.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/gay12061200003-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=374&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Jane Abbott Lighty, left, and her partner, Pete-e Petersen, take an oath while receiving the first marriage license for a same-sex couple in King County. Standing behind Lighty and Petersen are Brendon K. Taga, left, and Jesse Page.
Elaine Thompson, AP![Brendon K. Taga, left, and partner Jesse Page display their marriage license.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/gay12061200004-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Brendon K. Taga, left, and partner Jesse Page display their marriage license.
Elaine Thompson, AP![Corrinalyn, left, and Jennifer Guyette apply for a marriage license at the King County Recorder's office.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/gay12061200005-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Corrinalyn, left, and Jennifer Guyette apply for a marriage license at the King County Recorder's office.
David Ryder, Getty Images![A button celebrates the issuing of marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Referendum 74 asked voters to either approve or reject a state law legalizing same-sex marriage. That law was signed by Gov. Chris Gregoire in February but was put on hold pending the outcome of the election. Nearly 54% of voters approved the measure.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/gay12061200006-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A button celebrates the issuing of marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Referendum 74 asked voters to either approve or reject a state law legalizing same-sex marriage. That law was signed by Gov. Chris Gregoire in February but was put on hold pending the outcome of the election. Nearly 54% of voters approved the measure.
Elaine Thompson, AP![Heather Kawamoto, center left, and her partner, Kay Lancaster, stand with their daughter, Kayleigh Kawamoto, during a signing ceremony for Referendum 74, a citizen-passed measure that legalizes same-sex marriage, in Olympia, Wash.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/gay12061200007-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Heather Kawamoto, center left, and her partner, Kay Lancaster, stand with their daughter, Kayleigh Kawamoto, during a signing ceremony for Referendum 74, a citizen-passed measure that legalizes same-sex marriage, in Olympia, Wash.
Elaine Thompson, AP![Melody Platt, left, and her partner, Beratta Gomillion, wait in line in Seattle.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/gay12061200008-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Melody Platt, left, and her partner, Beratta Gomillion, wait in line in Seattle.
Elaine Thompson, AP![Amanda Dollente, left, and her partner, Kelly Middleton, display a marriage license ticket in Seattle.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/gay12061200009-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Amanda Dollente, left, and her partner, Kelly Middleton, display a marriage license ticket in Seattle.
Elaine Thompson, AP![Couples hold flowers and bottles of Champagne.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/gay12061200010-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Couples hold flowers and bottles of Champagne.
Elaine Thompson, AP![Jeri Andrews, left, and her partner, Amy Andrews, wait in line. Amy Andrews wore the same veil during a symbolic, though not legal, marriage ceremony the couple had in 2011.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/gay12061200011-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Jeri Andrews, left, and her partner, Amy Andrews, wait in line. Amy Andrews wore the same veil during a symbolic, though not legal, marriage ceremony the couple had in 2011.
Elaine Thompson, APFeatured Weekly Ad