Mass marriage for gay couples held in Ohio

More than 200 gay and lesbian couples gathered in Cleveland for a mass marriage in an effort to get the state of Ohio to recognize same-sex marriage. The couples were joined by friends and family when they were married by eight priests and ministers in a Saturday afternoon ceremony, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported. The ceremony was followed by speeches by activists on the steps of Cleveland City Hall. Judy Benson of Old Lesbians Organizing for Change said the right to marry for the gay community is not just cosmetic or symbolic. "Old gay couples have problems because the state will not sanction their marriage like inheritances or social security benefits," she said. "These are things that are freely given to male-female couples." Event organizers said that while the marriages were not legal, they could provide some paperwork needed for obtaining a marriage license, should gay marriage ever be recognized in Ohio. Ed Mullen, executive director of Equality Ohio, said the mass marriage may be the biggest ever held. Currently, same-sex marriage is legal in New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maryland, Washington and the District of Columbia.