Same-sex marriage becomes legal in DC; line forms

WASHINGTON – At least 50 same-sex couples were lined up to apply for marriage licenses when city offices opened Wednesday, the day the unions became legal in the nation's capitol.

Cheering erupted from the crowd when the first couple signed in at the city's marriage bureau inside the Moultrie courthouse, just blocks from the U.S. Capitol. Because of a mandatory waiting period of three business days, however, couples won't actually be able to marry in the District of Columbia until March 9.

Court officials have been told to expect up to 200 people They plan to have five people taking applications instead of the usual two.

Sinjoyla Townsend, 41, and her partner of 12 years, Angelisa Young, 47, claimed the first spot in line just after 6 a.m. They are already domestic partners in the city, so they are converting that partnership into a marriage license.

"It's like waking up Christmas morning," Young said. "It's really like a dream come true."

Mike and Tobey Slagenweit-Coffman of Arlington, Va., had a civil union in Vermont and a big church wedding in Minnesota, but wanted to get legally married in D.C. Tobey Slagenweit-Coffman said allowing same-sex marriages in the nation's capital is historic.

"It's signaling definitely a change in the mood of the country," he said.

Washington will be the sixth place in the nation where gay marriages can take place. Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont currently issue licenses to same-sex couples.

To deal with the expected crowd Wednesday, the marriage bureau will bring in temporary employees to help its regular staff, courthouse spokeswoman Leah Gurowitz said.

"Everybody who wants a marriage license is going to get one. It may take a little longer, but they will get their license," Gurowitz said.