San Diego County handed out its first marriage license to same sex couples on Monday morning.
The first ceremony of the day was shortly after 8 a.m. when Susan Hartman and Stephanie Torres were married under the trellis after exchanging their vows. The couple had been together for more than 21 years.
Many other same sex couples were wed throughout the day – including Chris Harris and Joseph Bruglin. They were the first couple to ask for an appointment on Wednesday, after the Supreme Court's decision.
Monday morning at 6:30 a.m. Harris and Bruglin received a call, letting them know it was time to make things official.
“I think about all the people who worked to make this happen that came before us,” said Harris. “Some were arrested and some didn’t live to see this day. Those people are on my mind today, we are standing on their shoulders.”
Marriages across the state went on despite efforts by those opposed to same-sex marriage. Saturday a petition was filed to the Supreme Court calling for an immediate halt to issuing licenses. Attorneys argues that Supreme Court rules require a 25 day period for the appeals process, but Sunday Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy rejected the petition, without explanation.
County officials say all available appointments to be married were filled Monday. Some couples were lined up before the offices opened and the phone system was inundated with calls throughout the day.
For those who could not get an appointment, the county is having their "walk-in Wednesdays" when couples don't need an appointment.
