MIAMI (AP) - Lesbian and gay couples have gotten married in Miami.
Florida's first same-sex weddings were held Monday, presided over by the same judge in Miami-Dade County who cleared the way for marriage licenses to be issued ahead of Florida's coming-out party at midnight. That's when Florida becomes the nation's 36th state where same-sex marriages are legal statewide.
The addition of Florida's 19.9 million people means 70 percent of Americans now live in states where gay marriage is legal.
The courtroom erupted in cheers when Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Sarah Zabel cleared the way for the licenses issued to Cathy Pareto and Karla Arguello, and Jeff and Todd Delmay. Then she presided over their weddings in a dual ceremony.
Large-scale ceremonies in Orlando, Tampa, Key West and Broward County are planned Tuesday.
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