Check out instant tea for ongoing coverage of the marriage equality decision and reactions from across North Texas and elsewhere.
I’ll be providing updates throughout the day. Have a tip or photo? E-mail me at russell@dallasvoice.com.
1:50 p.m.: Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart will begin issuing current marriage license forms to same-sex couples, reversing an earlier decision by his office. Stanart originally told couples to wait for correct forms from the state, which could’ve been delivered as late as 4:30 p.m.
1:49 p.m.: My friend Drew Stanley sent me a couple of photos from inside Travis County government offices, seen below:
1:19 p.m.: Terry Thompson took a photo of a few of us at the Voice around David’s desk. No surprise here: I didn’t want my photo taken and look like I want to punch someone. <3 <3 <3
(L to R): David Taffet, Chad Mantooth, Steve Mobley, James Russell and Leo Cusimano.
12:53 p.m.: WOW. A lot is going on. I just got off the phone with Houston couple John LaRue and Hunter Middleton. The Harris County residents told me they were the first in line at the Harris County Clerk’s office this morning. Despite the Supreme Court ruling, the couple was denied a license.
An employee told the couple they were awaiting a decision from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office before issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. At a press conference, LaRue said, Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart said his office was also awaiting forms that indicate the correct sex from the stare.
Stanart had previously indicated his opposition to same-sex marriage.
LaRue said, however, the county attorney’s office wrote Stanart to use the current forms, just like other counties. Stanart said he has yet to see that letter.
Meanwhile Denton County couple Tod King and Casey Cavalier were denied a marriage license for similar reasons. They would have been the first same-sex couple to have gotten married in the county. They opted instead to get married in Dallas County.
12:01 p.m.: More photos from newlyweds Cpl. Tracey Knight and her wife Shannon:
11:55 a.m.: Jack and George Evans, after 55 years, have officially gotten hitched. They were among the first at the county clerk’s office this morning.
11:31 a.m.: Fort Worth’s Cpl. Tracey Knight, who serves as the department’s LGBT liasion, and her partner are the first couple in Tarrant County to get their marriage license. Knight said the police chief allowed her to go in uniform for the historic occasion.
11:09 a.m.: News release from Tarrant County: “clerk to proceed with issuing of marriage licenses to all persons who qualify, regardless of sex.”
11 a.m.: Sheriff Lupe Valdez, at a press conference, said “we now have the same rights, we have been waiting so long.”
10:49 a.m.: Bill Reyno, left, and Chris Walters, right, have been together 6 years and plan to get married today:
10:47 a.m.: Jack and George Evans, together for 55 years, finally will get their marriage license. George told Tammye, “I remember when you could be arrested for being homosexual.”
Here’s a photo of the couple:
10:44 a.m.: Tarrant County Clerk Mary Louise Garcia has given her employees the green light to get married.
10:34 a.m.: David reports that Judge Ken Mohlberg is awaiting orders from Dallas County Clerk John Warren before waiving the 72 hour waiting period to get marriages.
10:06 a.m.: The line at the Dallas County Clerk’s office as of 10:06 a.m.:
