Same-sex couples in Florida's most populous county began legally marrying today, and couples statewide can apply for marriage licenses at 12:01a.m. Tuesday.
Just hours after a state judge in Miami-Dade County lifted a stay on her July ruling striking down the state's ban on marriage equality, the judge promptly officiated the weddings of two of the same-sex couples whose lawsuit secured the freedom to marry in Miami-Dade County.
Thanks to an August ruling from U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, same-sex couples throughout the Sunshine State can legally marry beginning just after midnight on Tuesday morning. Judge Hinkle's initial ruling was accompanied by a stay until "the end of the day" on January 5, and despite repeated efforts by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to delay the arrival of marriage equality, Hinkle's stay is set to expire at midnight. After a last-ditch effort by Bondi's office tried to claim that the lawsuit impacted only the counties listed in the suit, Hinkle clarified on New Year's Day that his ruling is indeed binding throughout the state, and requires all county clerks to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Marriage Equality in Florida
In anticipation of an avalanche of applicants Tuesday, several counties are opening their Clerk of the Courts offices (which are responsible for issuing marriage licenses) early on Tuesday.
Most county clerks offices are scheduled to open at 8 a.m. Tuesday, when they are legally required to begin accepting marriage applications from same-sex couples — though five counties in northern Florida have decided to stop performing marriages altogether rather than issue licenses to same-sex couples. Those counties, as of Saturday, were Duval, Baker, Clay, Oskaloosa, and Santa Rosa counties. Clerks in Pasco County, near Tampa Bay, have agreed to issue licenses, but will not perform marriages for any couples at county courthouses in Dade City or New Richey, according to Tampa Bay news station BHTV. Instead, county officials will provide referrals to notaries who can officiate ceremonies.
By contrast, the Osceola County Clerk's Office plans to open from midnight to 2 a.m. on Tuesday, reports the Tampa Bay Times. Clerks in Monroe County, which includes Key West, have also indicated that their office will open at 11:30 p.m. Monday night, ready to issue at least 100 marriage licenses to eager same-sex couples at the stroke of midnight.
As a result, Aaron Huntsman and William Lee Jones, the Key West-based plaintiffs who filed one of four state-level lawsuits taking aim at Florida's ban on same-sex marriage, announced their plans to wed just after midnight on Tuesday, and broadcast their nuptials live on YouTube. Below, see Jones (left) and Huntsman getting fitted for their wedding attire at Timmy's Tuxedos in Key West.
State law mandates a three-day waiting period for Florida residents between the initial application and receiving a marriage license, but clerks in some counties have indicated a willingness to waive that waiting period on a case-by-case basis. Clerks in Hillsborough County have offered to waive the three-day waiting period for same-sex couples, according to Patch.com.
While LGBT Floridians rush to get their best formalwear pressed and ready for tomorrow's statewide celebrations, enjoy these heartwarming photos from same-sex couples finally able to marry the person they love in their home state:
Today, Florida became the 36th state, plus DC, allowing Gay Marriage! https://t.co/4ym6qx9vrb pic.twitter.com/1LG5AZzn3i
— Guys With Pride (@GWPCampaign)>January 5, 2015
Cindy Ord/Getty Images
