(CNN) - After 19 years, Linda Murphy and Donna Swartwout tied the knot at 12:01 a.m. Friday, when New Hampshire's law legalizing same-sex marriage took effect.
They were among several couples early Friday who married on the steps of the New Hampshire Statehouse in Concord, under a full moon.
At midnight, New Hampshire became the fifth state to allow same-sex couples to marry, joining Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts and Iowa.
The couple, who live in Hudson, New Hampshire, said they wanted to be married as soon as they could.
"We were thrilled and proud of New Hampshire ... it was a such a historic moment," Murphy said.
The two had a commitment ceremony 11 years ago. Swartwout said the marriage gives them "words and language that the rest of the world uses."
She said, "When my nephew asks, 'Who's Linda?,' I get to say, 'she's my wife,' " she said.
From CNN Politics
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This is a basic civil right who's time has come. You cannot stop the inevitable tide of History.
Nice to see another state moving out of the Middle Ages–only 45 to go. And for those who are against same-sex marriage, don't get one. We should celebrate people who want to be in a committed relationship. I've yet to hear an argument against same-sex marriage beyond "my God doesn't like it," or the pure silliness of "farm animals will be next." C'mon, folks, we set reasonable limits to behavior all the time (e.g. you can drive 65 MPH on the freeway but not 80), and "your God" isn't supposed to be setting public policy. Perhaps, those who claim they're trying to "protect marriage" could focus on lowering the divorce rate. How about we stop interfering in other people's happiness based on our religious beliefs? Who are committed gay couples really hurting? No one. How about some tolerance as we begin 2010.
Congratulations to you both! It is about time! Now lets work on the IRS to treat ALL with EQUAL treatment!
Message to Obama. The 5th state to allow gay Marriage and you and the Democratic party are still betraying your promises to the gay community, and you still remain our Discriminator in Chief. Let gay men and women out of the back of the bus now, end discrimination in the military like other nations have, and give gay men and women at least a national civil unions bill to protect their rights. If the promises aren't kept befoe the 2010 election any gay man or woman voting for a Democrats is will be a betrayer of their brothers and sisters!
California was once considered the leader in human rights and even respected the truth that al people have a right to be married, but church groups voted against it and now California is behind the leaders again. Someday, the whole nation will respect the rights of people over the power of the church to force their opinion on all. It may take time but how can a nation who fights a war against the Psychopathic Opinionist behind 9/11 continue to allow homegrown opinionist groups to push their ways on all here at home? The lesson of all times is that playing the forced unification of opinion card wins only the unanimity of the graveyard. Respecting human rights is the only way to peace.
If they going to legalized same sex marriage in one state, they should legalize it in all states. Unless you only allow it there but not over there. Its like anything that is been legalize.
Same sex marriage is an abomination before God... Read the bible to know why God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. We should abhor same sex marriage because it's a sacrilege to marriage and click to the traditional form of marriage which is between a man and a woman.... We are provoking God and nature for this kind of abominable act in the name of freedom and equal right.... HAPPY NEW YEAR to anyone that says NO to same sex marriage... God bless you all.
This Republican applauds New Hampshire and congratulates the human-rights activists there on their victory.
The idea that any state should be able to dictate who can and cannot get married is abhorrent. As a straight, married man, I have no problem with same-sex marriage. It doesn't threaten the sanctity of my marriage, nor does it diminish the institution, which is supposed to be based upon love and commitment rather than sexual activity. The religious extremists who are vehemently opposed to same-sex marriage are nothing more than insecure homophobes who think that it would encourage same-sex activity. I've got news for you folks. That's going to happen whether marriage among gays is permitted or not. And the fact that gays might be able to marry could not possibly influence non-gays not to marry. The vast majority of gays were born to their preference, just as heterosexuals were born to theirs. Penalizing them by taking away the right to marry should be unconstitutional.
I am a Christian & heterosexual and I believe same sex-marriage is a civil right.
I am not happy with Obama on this issue but I am not willing to vote for anyone in the GOP as they are backers of anti-gay rights.
It took almost 100 years from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Acts in the 1960's. The fight for rights and freedom sometimes take a very long time but still the fight must go on.
It is a civil right for you to choose your sexual orientation. I don't care if you're strait or gay, it doesn't matter. We all deserve the same rights, and to sum it up nicely, if you truly believe that homosexuality is some kind of mental disease I'd advise you to see a doctor cause you might have one..
California a leader in human rights. What a myth.