PORTLAND, Maine – Michael Snell and Steven Bridges made history at 12:01 am Saturday, Dec. 29, when they became the first same-sex couple to marry in Maine.

The two men stood in front of a county clerk, exchanged rings after saying their “I do” vows, and were declared married. Witnesses and onlookers applauded.

But when the newlyweds walked out of the courthouse, they were greeted by thunderous roars from the crowd that had gathered to witness the historic occasion for Mainers.

Emboldened by Election Day victories in Maine, Maryland and Washington state, marriage-equality supporters are pushing to legalize same-sex weddings in other states.

SEATTLE – Gay and lesbian couples flocked to city halls and courthouses on Sunday to get married, as Washington state celebrated its first day of marriage equality.

In Seattle, Mayor Mike McGinn was all smiles, welcoming couples to City Hall and congratulating newlyweds. “It’s a great day, a joyous day,” he said.

Strangers who wanted to be part of the historical moment handed out flowers to the newlyweds and shouted out their congratulations.

People showered the steep steps of City Hall with rose petals and rice in celebration.

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is calling on the Maryland Marriage Alliance to return the $10,000 donation of Michael Peroutka, an active white supremacist and secessionist sympathizer who was one of the three largest individual donors to the campaign against marriage equality in Maryland.