Gay-friendly marriage licenses make Minnesota debut

Published 6:39 am Thursday, June 6, 2013

MINNEAPOLIS — Same-sex couples can now apply for Minnesota marriage licenses in some counties under the state’s new law allowing gay marriage.

The new, gender-neutral license applications are available Thursday morning in a few of the biggest counties. There’s expected to be lines at some service centers in Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington counties.

Actual weddings between gay couples can’t start until Aug. 1. Minnesota’s Management and Budget office estimates about 5,000 gay couples will get married in the first year of the new law.

Not every county is making the new licenses available yet. The Forum newspaper in Fargo-Moorhead reports they may not be available in Clay County until sometime in July.

In Hennepin County, the new licenses replace the words “bride” and “groom” with “applicant” for both members of the couple.