JOHNS: Same-sex couples are now tying the knot in a new state this morning. When the clock struck midnight same sex weddings were allowed in Maryland joining Washington State and D.C., Maine, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. Kim Dacey from affiliate WBAL in Baltimore was at City Hall for the first wedding</s>WILLIAM TASKER, GROOM: Jim and I met in 1977 and at that time I just really didn't believe that gay people would ever see the day that they could marry.</s>KIM DACEY, WBAL: After 35 years as a couple, Bill Tasker and Jim Scales were the first same-sex couple to be legally wed at Baltimore city hall. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake as mayor and an ordained minister presided over the ceremony herself.</s>MAYOR STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE, BALTIMORE: It's a very emotional night, incredibly meaningful night. There are so many people who have the chance now to have the life that they wanted for themselves and for their family. And I'm so proud of Maryland that we chose equality over hate.</s>DACEY: Seven same-sex couples took their vows at city hall 12:30 this morning, the culmination of what has been a long battle for supporters of marriage equality. The same-sex marriage referendum on the ballot in November was hotly debated but ultimately passed.</s>JIM SCALES, GROOM: I'm very happy. This is as happy as I've ever been and to be able to spend the rest of my life with Bill legally and to just show the gay community this can be done.</s>DACEY: And Jim and Bill have some advice for other same-sex couples thinking of making a lifetime commitment.</s>SCALES: Just don't abuse it. Be sure it's love before you say "I do".</s>JOHNS: That was Kim Dacey from our affiliate WBAL reporting. Less than four months after the U.S. Ambassador to Libya was killed, safety concerns are now being raised for the U.S. ambassador to Yemen.
First Same-Sex Weddings in Maryland