Washington starts issuing same-sex marriage licenses.

        (CNN) -- Shortly after the clock struck midnight, two Seattle women legitimized their 35-year love affair early Thursday by becoming the first same-sex couple to receive a marriage license in King County, Washington.

        A lesbian couple who have been together since 1977 received the first license in King County. The two women met on a blind date in 1977, when homosexuality was highly taboo and gay people socialized privately in homes, never in public. They thought they would die without being legally married, though they had a church wedding in 2005. Washington voters approved Referendum 74, legalizing same-sex marriage, last month.

        "Oh, my goodness!" Lighty said. "We've been together 35 years and seen all kinds of change”, says Pete-e Petersen. "It's been a long journey," Petersen said. "We're so excited to know we'll get a license and then get married on Sunday." Pete-e Petersen is 85 and Jane Abbott Lighty is 77, and they have lived to see the world transformed and they both are now happily married.

        In the article they say that Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and Secretary of State Sam Reed certified Referendum 74 Wednesday, surrounded by the marriage equality bill's supporters. After years of saying no at the ballot box, American voters for the first time said yes to same-sex marriage this fall in Washington, Maryland and Maine. Marriage licenses for same-sex couples will begin being issued on December 29 in Maine and January 1 in Maryland. Voters in Minnesota rejected a measure that would have banned same-sex marriage.

        I think that the people in Washington are very happy and relieved that this happened. I feel as though they can all live their lives happily without hiding and lying about things.

        I don’t have any questions now.