NYC Picks Honeymoon Winners

New York City's official tourism agency has chosen one couple from each of the five boroughs as the winners of a honeymoon package. The winners were selected from the more than 650 couples who tied the knot on the first day of legalized same-sex marriage. And it turns out that one of the winning couples is straight.

Sacha Jessamy and Sharif Allen, a straight couple whose wedding website says they first said ‘I do’ at the Astoria World Manor on October 24, 2009, were among the throngs of couples who took the leap on Sunday, July 24th. Nearly all of the 659 couples who received a marriage license in the five boroughs on that history-making day were gays and lesbians but a handful of straight couples joined them. And one of those couples is walking away with swag. Jessamy and Allen are among five couples — one from each borough — who were selected from a lottery to get a honeymoon package from the city’s tourism agency, NYC & Co.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Paper Prints Wedding Notice For Interracial Gay Couple

Andrew Sullivan points us to the above wedding announcement published by South Carolina's largest daily newspaper. Rather than smile at the image of all those good ole boys freaking out over today's paper, let's wish the happy couple our best. (Whoops, smiling anyway.)

Gay Weddings In Central Park!

On a gorgeous cloudless day, today dozens of gay couples married in the shade of two "pop-up chapels" in Central Park, with our own Father Tony officiating at two of the ceremonies. Above are newlyweds Jen and Rose, moments after Father Tony made it legal. Below, John and Rob exchange rings. Also on hand were hair and make-up artists who donated their time and materials. The day was emceed by openly gay television personality Dave Holmes. (Lots and lots of photos from today are here.)
RELATED: As informal a day as this was, I was especially struck by how respectful passersby became once they grokked what was going down. Throngs of tourists lined the barricades at all times, quieting down when the chapels were active, then erupting in cheers when they could see that each ceremony was complete. It was a beautiful thing to witness.

BROADWAY: Gay Wedding Takes Place Onstage After Hair Performance

From Disney's Wedding Blog

On Disney's wedding blog today, a lovely recounting of a same-sex romance. Aaand here come calls for a boycott!

(Tipped by JMG reader Eric)

Just Married

Buzzfeed has a fantastic collection of gay couples photographed moments after being married yesterday.

Bloomberg Officiates Gay Wedding

SLIDESHOW: Manhattan Marriages

Our own Father Tony sends in his slideshow taken at the Manhattan marriage festival this afternoon. Full-screen versions of the below images are at the above link. UPDATE: Tony's husband adds his own photos and commentary.

Straight Folks Got Married Today Too

Brooklyn Celebrates

Well Wishes From Bette Midler

Volunteer Flower Girls

This Village Voice photo by Steven Thrasher made my grinchy heart grow two sizes: "That's Steve Landis and Julie Irwin, who brought their 4-year-old twins Emily and Sophie to Brooklyn Borough Hall this morning to be flower girls for whoever might need them. They don't even know anyone getting married today! Aw."

VIDEO: Gay Couples Wed In NYC

NEW YORK CITY: Marriages Commence!

Marriages have begun to take place across the five boroughs, with hundreds of happy couples facing down the withering heat as they wait their turns to be called. Check out the slideshow being updated from the scene by Freedom To Marry's Michael Crawford.

First Couple Married In Niagara Falls

With the magnificent Niagara Falls as a backdrop, early this morning two lesbian activists became the first same-sex couple to legally marry in New York.

Against a cascade of rainbow-colored falls, and with cicadas humming in the background, Kitty Lambert and Cheryle Rudd married at the first possible moment in Niagara Falls. After a bell tolled 12 times to ring in the new day, Ms. Lambert, 54, and Ms. Rudd, 53, held hands and kissed in front of more than 100 friends and family members.

Everybody Wins NYC Marriage Lottery

According to New York City officials, ALL of the gay couples who entered the marriage lottery will be able to wed this Sunday.

The city had established a lottery as a precaution, worried that high demand would overload clerk’s offices in the five boroughs on the historic day. But in the end, demand nearly matched supply, with 823 couples applying for 764 slots. To accommodate the overflow, the city will allow an additional 59 couples to marry. But because of strained resources, 74 couples who had hoped to marry in Manhattan, home to the city’s busiest marriage bureau, will be asked to go to another borough. Those couples will be selected at random, and the city planned to notify them Thursday night. “Everybody wins,” the City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, said in a statement.

About 70 judges have volunteered to officiate at the ceremonies.

Lauderdale Wants Gay Honeymooners

Fort Lauderdale tourism officials are hoping that New Yorkers will consider South Florida when it comes to making honeymoon plans. Therefore, they've launched a contest.

Just in time for New York's first gay marriages set for Sunday, Greater Fort Lauderdale is launching a contest for gay newlyweds a chance to win honeymoon packages at The Royal Palms Resort & Spa or The Atlantic Resort & Spa. The 62-room Royal Palms offers a winning couple a five-night stay, a couples massage, chocolate strawberries, rainbow roses, plus dinner for two at G.G.'s, with a wine flight and special cake dessert. The Atlantic Resort & Spa, a 124-room luxury hotel overlooking the ocean, offers a contest winner a three-night stay in an ocean-view studio with private balcony, kitchenette and marble bathroom, plus a couples massage, two welcome cocktails and if available, a room upgrade.

More people already visit Florida from New York than from any other state.

Westboro To Picket NYC Weddings

It's a pity they won't be attending NOM's hate rally. That's a side-by-side photo that is long overdue.

VERMONT: Lesbian Couple Sues Hotel For Refusing Their Wedding Reception

A lesbian couple has filed a lawsuit against a Vermont inn for refusing to host their wedding reception. Their suit was filed by the ACLU.

Kate Baker and Ming Linsley filed the suit on Tuesday in Vermont Superior Court, accusing the Wildflower Inn of Lyndonville of abruptly turning them away after learning they are lesbians. They claim the inn violated Vermont’s Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act, which prohibits inns, hotels, motels and other establishments with five or more rooms from turning away patrons based on sexual orientation. The law makes an exemption for religious organizations. Twenty-one other states and the District of Columbia have similar laws. Greg Johnson, a law professor at Vermont Law School, said the suit could set a precedent as more states legalize same-sex marriage. Currently, same-sex marriage is legal in six states and the District of Columbia, all of which protect gay men and lesbians in their public-accommodations laws.

According to the suit, the inn has turned away at least two other gay couples.

TOO MANY HAPPY COUPLES: NYC To Hold Lottery To Get Gay-Married On First Day

New York City officials today announced a "marriage lottery" to deal with the high numbers of gay couples looking to tie the knot on the first day of legalized same-sex marriage.

Fearing demand for same-sex weddings will be too great for the City Clerk’s Office to handle this Sunday, city officials have announced a lottery for weddings on the first day that gay couples can legally wed in the state. Officials said couples could be stuck waiting in long lines all day and, though the city has added extra clerks for Sunday, ultimately would not be able to get married because of the high volume. The lottery will guarantee 764 couples – either opposite- or same-sex — access to marry at one of the City Clerk’s five offices Sunday. The 764 couples to marry would be the largest number of marriages on any single day in city history.

NYC has received over 2500 online marriage applications since the day of the historic vote. Hit the link to learn how to enroll for the first day lottery. What a wonderful problem to have!

UPDATE: The Human Rights Campaign comments.

"The record breaking number of couples registering to marry shows how popular--and right-- passing marriage equality was. The lottery is a good compromise. Mayor Bloomberg and Speaker Quinn took this great problem to have and came up with a good solution. There will be a lot of love at the City Clerk's Office on Sunday. Every lawmaker, Democrat and Republican, should take heart that New York families are all the stronger."