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At Stroke Of Midnight, Gay Couples To Get Marriage Licenses

Darcyandkat
/
Flickr

King County plans to pull an all-nighter on the first day marriage licenses are available to same-sex couples under Washington state law. On Thursday, Dec. 6, at 12:01 a.m., the county is scheduled to open its licensing office in downtown Seattle.
County Executive Dow Constantine said the office will stay open extra hours Dec. 6-8.

"We expect high demand for a while, so we’re putting on some extra shifts," Constantine said.  "We're doing this because I don't think, frankly, people should have to wait a moment longer to get the rights that they’ve always had, and the voters of the state have finally recognized."

[asset-pullquotes[{"quote": "We%27re%20doing%20this%20because%20I%20don%27t%20think%2C%20frankly%2C%20people%20should%20have%20to%20wait%20a%20moment%20longer...", "style": "inset"}]]Speaking on KUOW's Weekday, Constantine said he plans to personally sign the first batch of licenses. He said he’ll use a pen Governor Chris Gregoire gave him after she signed the state’s same-sex marriage law this year. That’s the law voters upheld in last week’s election.

Washington has a three-day waiting period for marriage licenses to become valid. So Dec. 9 is the earliest day gay couples can legally get married in the state.

Pierce County has also scheduled extra licensing hours starting on Dec. 6.

Year started with KUOW: 2006