Grijalva originally urged boycotts of Arizona but said the judge's recent ruling demanded a refocus.
Darlene Garner (left) smiles as her partner, Candy Holmes of Washington, is overcome with emotion after the couple obtained their marriage license on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, the first day possible for gay couples to obtain the licenses in the District of Columbia. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)Sinjoyla Townsend was at a courthouse and in tears Wednesday morning. And she wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
Ms. Townsend and her partner, Angelisa Young, were the first same-sex couple in line to apply for a marriage license at the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse.
The tears rolled down Ms. Townsend's face as the resident of the District of Columbia basked in silent joy, overcome by the emotion of the day.
"No matter where I go in the world now, when I say I'm married, somebody else will truly understand exactly what I'm talking about," Ms. Young said. "It's not gay, it's not lesbian, it's just a human right of being able to share love and enjoy each other. That's basically all we're asking for and we got it today."
Ms. Young, 47, and Ms. Townsend, 41, joined dozens of other couples at the courthouse - on the first day gay marriages were allowed in the District. Same-sex couples could apply for marriage licenses and then wait the standard processing period of three full business days for the licenses to be issued. Tuesday will be the first day same-sex marriage ceremonies can be performed and recognized.
Ms. Young and Ms. Townsend also will be among the first to marry. They will wed at a nondenominational service at the Human Rights Campaign headquarters.
Some of the same-sex couples at the courthouse Wednesday - at least 90 had arrived before noon - said they already had married informally but were glad for the opportunity to get the government's seal of approval.
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