Just a few hours after Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced he would no longer fight a challenge to West Virginia’s gay marriage ban in court and Governor Tomblin directed state agencies to begin taking steps toward allowing the practice, Chris Bostic and David Epp of Charleston were the first couple to apply for a marriage license in Kanawha County.
Moments before, Justin Murdock and William Glavaris, as well as Casie McGee and Sarah Adkins received their licenses to marry in Cabell County.
Counties across West Virginia are issuing the licenses after orders from the state saying not to turn couples away.
Old vs. New pic.twitter.com/ji0LkBZtkl
— Matt Murphy (@mattmurphywy) October 9, 2014
The new marriage license form has now been received in the #LincolnWV County Clerk's Office. pic.twitter.com/FiNTxrkNJ1
— Sean O'Donoghue (@SeanPODonoghue) October 9, 2014
Cabell County's first same-sex couple to be married. .@heralddispatch pic.twitter.com/r2SSDiQLFB
— Lacie Pierson (@LaciePierson) October 9, 2014
William Glavaris and Justin Murdock requested privacy as another same-sex couple came in for a license. pic.twitter.com/r49dFiR8KN
— Lacie Pierson (@LaciePierson) October 9, 2014
"Are we really the first??" #wvequality pic.twitter.com/eVwDSTOpUY
— Matt Murphy (@mattmurphywy) October 9, 2014
Hear more from assistant news director and statehouse reporter Ashton Marra from an extended newscast on Thursday, October 9th: