Some Same-Sex Couples Prepare To Tie The Knot New Year's Eve
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- New Year's Eve will be historic for many in our area as Baltimore City Hall plans to wed same-sex couples for the first time ever. Rochelle Ritchie has the details.
In just a few days, gay couples will finally be recognized as married by law. Some are already planning a lively celebration with the help of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
"We got engaged six months ago," said Darcia Anthony.
Anthony is finally going to have a moment she's waited for since starting a relationship with her partner, Danielle.
"I can't think of a better way to say I love you to the person I love than on the biggest day of the year," Anthony said.
The couple had made plans to go elsewhere to get married but when Question 6 was placed on the November ballot, they decided they'd hope for the best.
"Fortunately for us, it happened and we just went and applied for our marriage license," Anthony said.
November 6, Maryland voters voted 52%-48% to legalize same-sex marriage.
"We've been married in Washington DC, we've been married in New York and now we'll be married here in Maryland," said one woman.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has shown full support for gay marriage and says it's time to celebrate. She will open the doors of City Hall New Year's Eve after midnight to bring in the new year and new law by marrying same-sex couples for the first time ever in Maryland.
"I was campaigning in favor of Question 6. One of the things I talked about was how nice it would be to celebrate once we had the victory," Rawlings-Blake said.
The event is being made possible thanks to attorney Mark Scurti.
"Here in Baltimore City where the first marriage case was decided by Judge Murdoch and started the marriage equality discussion...it would be nice to bring it back to Baltimore City," Scurti said.
Anthony says she and her fiance say besides looking forward to making history with their love for each other, they're excited about the benefits of being a married couple.
"All the benefits we get. We can file as a married couple!" Anthony said.
Maine and Washington State will also begin performing same-sex marriages in the next two weeks.
