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First gay marriage held in Spain
 Many
Spanish gay couples have said they want to tie the knot
Two Spanish men have become the first gay couple to be married
since a new law allowing same-sex marriages.
Emilio Menendez, a Spaniard, and Carlos Baturin German, from the
US, tied the knot at a ceremony just outside Madrid.
The couple have been together for 30 years. After the event, Mr
German said: "Today we are even more a family."
Spain is the third European nation, after the Netherlands and
Belgium, to legalise same-sex marriages. The law allows gay
couples to adopt children.
'Wonderful day'
The wedding ceremony in the town of Tres Cantos was attended by
family friends and journalists - as well as Pedro Zerolo, the
governing Socialist Party's top official for social issues.
State television showed footage of the couple smiling and
displaying their wedding rings.
"The happiest day of our lives was when we fell in love with
each other. We have been together for 30 years, there have been
many wonderful days, today is yet another wonderful day," said Mr
Menendez.
Mr Zerolo said a dream had become reality, as the dignity of
homosexuals had been recognised.
Spain's lower house of parliament voted in favour of the bill
on 30 June, overruling its rejection by the upper house, the
Senate.
Polls suggest most Spaniards back the move, although thousands
joined a Madrid rally against the bill before it was passed.
A Roman Catholic group had presented MPs with a
600,000-signature petition opposing the legislation and were
lobbying hard for a referendum on the issue.
And some of Spain's local mayors have said they will not
officiate at gay marriages.
Spain sees first lesbian marriage
 More
journalists than guests were at Veronica and Tiana's wedding
Two women have become the first in Spain to get married since a
new law allowing same-sex weddings.
Veronica and Tiana, from Spain and Argentina, were married in
Mollet del Valles near Barcelona.
On Thursday, a judge in southern Spain angered the gay
community by preventing two other women from tying the knot.
The judge questioned whether the new marriage law was
compatible with the constitution, which refers to marriage only
between "a man and a woman."
The first marriage between two men took place on 11 July a week
after the marriage law came into force.
Spain's lower house of parliament voted in favour of the bill
on 30 June, overruling its rejection by the upper house, the
Senate. Polls suggest most Spaniards back the move, although
thousands joined a Madrid rally against the bill before it was
passed.
And some of Spain's local mayors have said they will not
officiate at gay marriages.
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