Hennepin Co. To Offer New Marriage License Applications Next Week
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) -- Hennepin County is prepared to start accepting applications from same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses late next week.
According to the county department of public affairs, the applications will be available beginning June 6, seven weeks before the Aug. 1 date that gay couples can start legally getting married in Minnesota. The new marriage license application removes the bride and groom references, and replaces it with "Applicant 1" and "Applicant 2."
The Freedom To Marry law was signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton earlier this month. The law made Minnesota the 12th state in the nation to legalize same-gender marriage.
A spokesman for neighboring Ramsey County said that officials will roll out that county's new license in the next few days. Spokesman Art Coulson says some couples have already expressed a desire to be married at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 1 and that officials are working to accommodate that.
City officials in Minnesota are making plans for a rush of marriages on Aug. 1. St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman is promoting the city's wedding venues, including Como Park Zoo and Conservatory.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press says Como Park has three wedding venues and plans to rent brief blocks of time to interested couples on Aug. 1.
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