New York Weddings Surge Thanks to Gay Marriage

Gay marriage is officially a hit in New York. Since it became legal on July 24, gay couples have accounted for roughly one out of every four new marriages in New York City, the New York Post guesstimates based on the sudden surge in applications—though the city says it can’t confirm that figure because it removed the gender requirement from its forms.

Marriage applications have hovered around 4,200 for this period over the past three years, only to shoot up to 5,587 this year. “We've had to work extra hard to handle the increase,” a city clerk said. “But even as same-sex marriage starts to feel routine here, everyone seems profoundly happy to be here.” (More gay marriage stories.)