Gay Couples Finally Get Married In New Jersey; Officiating Newark Mayor Almost Driven To Tears

There were seven gay couples who got married at the stroke of midnight in Newark City Hall. They were married by Newark Mayor Cory Booker himself.

Midnight of October 21 was when the ban on gay marriage was officially lifted. It became a historic date for New Jersey and the fight for Gay rights (marriage being one of them) and equality.

The rundown of events are from NJ.com

"It is officially past midnight, marriage is equal in New Jersey," Booker told the crowd to kick off the ceremony.

As Booker was marrying the first couple, Joseph Panessidi and Orville Bell, someone attempted to disrupt the ceremony.

Booker had asked if anyone had reason to object to the marriage and a protester screamed "This is unlawful in the eyes of God and Jesus Christ."

Booker, who was elected to the U.S. Senate last week, called for the person to be removed and police dragged him out.

As Booker continued speaking, "...not hearing any substantive and worthy objections," thunderous applause erupted.

Booker opened the separate ceremonies by talking about marriage as "a lifetime bond" that required serious consideration.

At one point, the event took a particularly emotional turn. As Booker married Gabriela Celeiro and Liz Salerno, the two held each other and got teary.

"There's some law about making a mayor cry, " he joked. "It's illegal."

He later said he had to collect himself before marrying the next couple.

Afterwards, the crowd toasted the newlyweds with sparkling apple cider.

"It was fantastic," said Debra Summers, who married her partner, Lynne Womble.

Summers said the ceremony crystallized the feelings she has felt for her partner for the past three years.

"I just knew were were gonna be together forever," she said.

Even the heckler, couldn't steal the moment away from Panessidi and Bell.

There "will always be protesters. That's their right," he said. "It does not affect me."

The Newark couple has been together for 15 years and got a civil union in 2009. Bell said he has known for a long time he wanted to marry Panessidi.

"I always know what I want, Joseph happened to fit that bill for me," Bell said. "At the end of the day, we can go to bed and say, 'I love you.'"

Today's marriage ceremonies marked the first time Booker has officiated weddings as mayor.

"I wasn't going to marry anybody, if I couldn't marry everybody," he said in an interview afterwards.