Albany mayor offers midnight same-sex weddings

Starting Sunday, July 24th, same-sex marriages will become effective in New York state as many couples prepare today by securing their marriage licenses.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Albany's mayor says he will marry up to 10 same-sex couples just after midnight Sunday as soon as New York's gay marriage law takes effect. Mayor Jerry Jennings said Tuesday he will begin performing marriages at 12:01 a.m. Sunday in the Common Council's chambers. He says a state Supreme Court judge will be available to waive the state-mandated 24-hour waiting period between the time a marriage license is issued and when a couple can be legally wed. The first 10 same-sex couples to return marriage licenses to City Hall on Friday will be eligible for the special ceremony in Albany.

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