ALBUQUERQUE — More than 100 people lined up in Albuquerque on Tuesday as the clerk in New Mexico’s most populous county began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
The Bernalillo County clerk opened her office to the excited crowd at 8 a.m., and a mass wedding took place at noon in the city’s Civic Plaza.
Patricia Catlett and her partner of 25 years, Karen Schmiege, were the first to get their license there. Catlett, 61, is a graphic designer from Albuquerque, and Schmiege, 69, a retired librarian.
“I am so excited, I can’t stand it,” Schmiege said as they signed their papers.
Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver began recognizing same-sex unions after State District Judge Alan Malott on Monday declared gay marriage legal.
She joins clerks in the state’s other two population centers in recognizing same-sex unions.
Also Tuesday, clerks in San Miguel and Valencia counties said they had decided to issue the licenses.
