Mayor to officiate same-sex weddings outside City Hall

COLUMBUS,Ohio (AP) – The mayor of Ohio’s capital city is set to officiate several gay weddings to celebrate this month’s landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman was scheduled to officiate the marriages of 15 gay couples Saturday outside City Hall. Coleman’s office invited couples to submit their relationship stories to be picked for the occasion.

The event marks the first same-sex marriage ceremony officiated by Coleman since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 26 to legalize gay marriage across the country.

Stonewall Columbus Executive Director Karla Rothan tells The Columbus Dispatch Coleman has always been an advocate for gay rights and has often been involved in the city’s gay pride festival.