Maryland’s first same sex weddings began at 12:01 a.m. on Jan.1 (Video)

Just a few blocks away from Baltimore’s famous Inner Harbor stands Baltimore’s City Hall where Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake married the first of Maryland’s same sex couples at 12:01 a.m. on January 1 amid the New Year's fireworks and revelry taking place right outside

Same sex marriages were signed into law for Maryland last February, a law that came into effect today.

James Scales, 68, and William Tasker, 60, were the first same sex couple to take advantage of Maryland’s new law and the first couple to be married shortly after midnight on January 1 inside Baltimore City Hall according to The Huffington Post.

Scales and Tasker have been together for 35-years. Just prior to the ceremony, Mr. Task said "it's just so hard to believe it's happening."

Six other same-sex couples were also married shortly after the stroke of midnight with Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake officiating.

‘ … true marriage, is the dearest of all earthly relationships.'

Photo credit: 

thinkprogress

Baltimore’s mayor said "There is no human institution more sacred than that of the one that you are about to form.”

"True marriage, true marriage, is the dearest of all earthly relationships."

Including Maryland, there are only nine U.S. states and the District of Columbia that have approved same-sex marriages.

Also see:

• Same sex marriage to become legal in Maryland
• Health care extended to same-sex married couples
• Md. becomes 8th state to legalize same-sex marriage: Opponents on the war path

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