Same-Sex Weddings in Washington State: Breakthrough for Gay Marriage?

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For the first time, same-sex couples now are allowed to marry in their state as the result of a popular vote legally authorizing such unions. Until now, those few states where gay marriages can occur took that step as the result of legislation or court cases based on discrimination.

But in Washington State Wednesday night, hundreds of same-sex couples lined up to apply for marriage licenses some having waited for decades, all in celebration of the states new law approved by voters in last months election.

Thursday was the first day such licenses were to be issued. By noon, nearly 400 licenses had been issued in Seattle.

"We waited a long time. We've been …