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| New Jersey has its first gay weddings | New Jersey has its first gay weddings |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Gay couples in New Jersey have been exchanging vows on the day the US state allowed same-sex marriage. | |
| A judge ruled last month that New Jersey must recognise gay nuptials. | A judge ruled last month that New Jersey must recognise gay nuptials. |
| Hours after the first ceremonies were held, Republican Governor Chris Christie - a potential 2016 White House candidate and declared opponent of gay unions - dropped a legal appeal against the ruling. | |
| Same-sex marriages are now legal in 14 states and the District of Columbia. | Same-sex marriages are now legal in 14 states and the District of Columbia. |
| A few minutes before midnight on Sunday, same-sex couples gathered in civic buildings across the state to wed. | A few minutes before midnight on Sunday, same-sex couples gathered in civic buildings across the state to wed. |
| 'Overwhelming' | |
| Newark Mayor Cory Booker, a Democrat who was elected last week to the US Senate, conducted some of the ceremonies at city hall. | Newark Mayor Cory Booker, a Democrat who was elected last week to the US Senate, conducted some of the ceremonies at city hall. |
| A protester was removed after shouting: "This is unlawful in the eyes of God and Jesus Christ." | A protester was removed after shouting: "This is unlawful in the eyes of God and Jesus Christ." |
| Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop conducted a joint ceremony for eight couples at the city council chambers. | Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop conducted a joint ceremony for eight couples at the city council chambers. |
| "I never thought I'd see this in my lifetime," said Barbara Milton after she was married to Kay Osborn, in remarks carried by the Associated Press news agency. | "I never thought I'd see this in my lifetime," said Barbara Milton after she was married to Kay Osborn, in remarks carried by the Associated Press news agency. |
| "To have this moment of equality is overwhelming." | "To have this moment of equality is overwhelming." |
| Married gay couples in New Jersey can now receive all the state and federal benefits of marriage. | |
| Mr Christie dropped the appeal hours after the first weddings began on Monday. | Mr Christie dropped the appeal hours after the first weddings began on Monday. |
| "Although the Governor strongly disagrees with the court substituting its judgment for the constitutional process of the elected branches or a vote of the people, the court has now spoken clearly as to their view of the New Jersey Constitution and, therefore, same-sex marriage is the law," his spokesman, Michael Drewniak, said in a statement. | "Although the Governor strongly disagrees with the court substituting its judgment for the constitutional process of the elected branches or a vote of the people, the court has now spoken clearly as to their view of the New Jersey Constitution and, therefore, same-sex marriage is the law," his spokesman, Michael Drewniak, said in a statement. |
| The Republican had previously said marriage was between a man and a woman, and argued that a popular vote should determine the issue. | The Republican had previously said marriage was between a man and a woman, and argued that a popular vote should determine the issue. |
| Also on Monday, four same-sex couples living in the state of Tennessee but wed in other states filed a lawsuit challenging Tennessee's law prohibiting recognition of their marriages. | Also on Monday, four same-sex couples living in the state of Tennessee but wed in other states filed a lawsuit challenging Tennessee's law prohibiting recognition of their marriages. |
| The suit argues that Tennessee's laws, including a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, violate the US constitution's guarantees of equal protection and due process. | The suit argues that Tennessee's laws, including a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, violate the US constitution's guarantees of equal protection and due process. |
| The Supreme Court struck down a key portion of a law preventing federal recognition of same-sex marriages in states that allow it earlier this year. | The Supreme Court struck down a key portion of a law preventing federal recognition of same-sex marriages in states that allow it earlier this year. |