New York City officials announced plans this week to extend the gesture of opening city clerk’s offices on Sunday, July 24 in order for gay couples to marry on the day that the same-sex marriage law goes into effect.
According to The New York Times, a number of clerk’s offices throughout the city will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on July 24, and will remain open two hours beyond their regular closing times throughout the week to accommodate the expected surge of couples seeking marriage licenses. Judges will be present at each location on July 24 to officiate the weddings after couples receive their marriage licenses.
The decision to open city offices outside of normal business hours echoes the overwhelming support of marriage equality shown by top city officials, who hope to add a special touch to this historic day for the gay community.
“Opening on the first day we could, it makes it a special and really memorable moment for those couples and also for our city,” said the City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn.
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg also commented on the significance of the same-sex marriage law and voiced his support for granting marriages on the first possible day. He stated, “This is a historic moment for New York…a moment many couples have waited years and even decades to see and we are not going to make them wait one day longer than they have to.”
Although most city clerk’s office will be open on July 24 – including offices in all 5 boroughs – gay couples who wish to get married that day should contact their local city clerk before making the trip, as some offices have chosen to remain closed.
