a blow to bigotry in Connecticut

Gay couples start marrying in Connecticut

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – A judge cleared the way Wednesday for gay marriage to begin Wednesday in Connecticut, a victory for advocates stung by California's referendum that banned same-sex unions in that state.

Couples immediately marched to New Haven City Hall to get marriage licenses, and less than two hours after the final court hearing, Peg Oliveira and Jennifer Vickery were married in a brief ceremony next to New Haven City Hall.

"I feel so happy," said Vickery, a 44-year-old attorney. "It's so much more emotional than I expected."

Gay marriage is legal now only in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The unions were legal in California until a statewide referendum to ban gay marriage narrowly passed last week. The vote has sparked protests and several lawsuits asking that state's Supreme Court to overturn the prohibition.

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