News (USA)

County executive: 146 same-sex couples married in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE -- Nearly 150 gay couples have married in Milwaukee after a federal judge overturned Wisconsin's ban on same-sex marriage. Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said Saturday afternoon that 146 couples married there before the courthouse closed at 1 p.m.
By Staff and Wire Reports · Updated on July 12, 2014
County executive: 146 same-sex couples married in Milwaukee
Cody Huston, left, and Tina Cady, both of Madison, embrace after getting married Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Madison, Wis. On Friday a federal judge struck down the state's gay marriage ban.
Cody Huston, left, and Tina Cady, both of Madison, embrace after getting married Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Madison, Wis. On Friday a federal judge struck down the state’s gay marriage ban. Andy Manis, AP

MILWAUKEE — Nearly 150 gay couples have married in Milwaukee after a federal judge overturned Wisconsin’s ban on same-sex marriage.

County clerks in Milwaukee and Madison have kept their offices open to issue licenses to couples who want to marry before an expected hold is placed on the judge’s decision.

Milwaukee County Clerk Joe Czarnezki said couples were lined up outside his courthouse at 6 a.m. Saturday, three hours before it opened.

Article continues below

By Saturday afternoon, 146 couples had married there before the courthouse closed at 1 p.m., according to Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele.

A post on his official Twitter account said 68 couples married Friday evening and 78 married on Saturday.

In total, 120 couples married in Milwaukee and Madison on Friday night, the Associated Press reported.

Abele said this is 24 hours he’ll never forget and he’s honored to take part in helping the couples marry.

In Madison, the Dane County Clerk’s office said it had issued 30 licenses by 11 a.m. Saturday and would remain open until 5 p.m. today.

© 2014, Associated Press, All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Don't forget to share:
News (USA)
Madison WI Marriage Equality Milwaukee WI Wisconsin

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Once Monthly Annually

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Louisville, Ky., high school approves transgender bathroom policy

Previous article

Former cop sues London police claiming years of anti-gay harassment

Next article

More in News (USA)