For many people, Florida is the state with constant sunshine, beautiful beaches, and the home of Mickey Mouse and Harry Potter, but on Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 at 12:01 pm, Florida became the 36th state to legalize same-sex marriage.
In 2008, Florida created a ban against same-sex marriages, but in August 2014 it was ruled unconstitutional by U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle. Hinkle stayed his ruling through January 5th, 2015. As expected, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi appealed the decision. However, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case, paving the way for same-sex marriages to begin that Tuesday.
As an Intern for the Recording Department for the Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court, I was able to witness history that day. Our office opened at the usual time that Tuesday at 8:30 am, and there was already a line of couples eagerly waiting outside our doors to run in and apply for a marriage license.
These computers are used at the Sarasota Office for the marriage license applications
In order to acquire a marriage license in the state of Florida, the couple must first read the Family Law handbook and then electronically fill out an application with the couple’s information. Then they may precede to a Deputy Clerk at the Recording department counters. There they provide valid identification, check to make sure all information is correct, and take an oath. The couple then has 60 days to use the marriage license, but most couples have a three day wait period before it is effective, unless they took a pre-marital course or one or both spouses is from out-of-state.
Our office had worked to make the necessary changes to the application, vows, and website so that on that monumental day, the first same-sex couple had their marriage license in-hand, sixteen minutes later by 8:46 am.Â
This is the marriage parlor at the Sarasota office
Couples then have the decision to either be married by a Deputy Clerk at the Clerk’s office or by an outside officiant in another location. On January 6th alone, Sarasota had issued 23 marriage licenses and Venice 13; those two cities are in the same county borders. That makes a total of 36 marriage licenses; 33 of which were for same-sex couples. At the Sarasota office, seven ceremonies were performed on our property, and five of them were for same-sex partners. Obviously it was a hectic work day for all in the Recording department, as they had to issue many marriage licenses while also having the media there to report on the excitement of the day.
I remember very clearly how populated the outside courtyard in front of the building was. An outside officiant performed a few group weddings, and family and friends were present to applaud for those couples, as they were all joyful for this new freedom in Florida. A private florist group was giving out free flowers to the couples, and guests brought colorful balloons that filled the sky. It was clearly a day of celebration and pure happiness.
This is the beautiful Sarasota County Clerk of the Court office established in 1927
The anticipation is now over, and the Recording department is back to its usual daily pace. Even though I did not help too much with process of helping the couples apply for marriage licenses, I was honored to witness the enthusiasm that day and a historical change in the state that I have lived in for over 17 years. Now Florida is a paradise in which people can enjoy the wonders of this tropical state with the freedom to marry the partner of their dreams.