Photos of the Day

Jane Abbott Lighty, left, and her partner of 35 years, Pete-e Petersen of West Dallas, hold the initial same-sex marriage license, signed on their behalf by King County Executive Dow Constantine, because the King County Recorder's office begins to problem same-sex marriage certification at 12:01 A.M. Thursday December 6, 2012. Lighty and Petersen will get married inside a special ceremony at Benaroya Hall featuring the Dallas Men's Chorus on Sunday evening. [Bettina Hansen/The Dallas Occasions]Ray Duncan, 56, and Randy Shepherd, 48, obtain a marriage license within the King County Administration Building. Initially from Dallas, Texas, they told digital photographer Meryl Schenker they gone to live in Washington many years ago since it was more gay friendly. [Meryl Schenker/via]Kelly Middleton, 24, and her partner Amanda Dollente, 29, embrace once they received their marriage license in the King County Administration Building on Thursday, December 6, 2012. [Joshua Trujillo/SeattlePI.com]Kim Hinken, of Edgewater, MD, supports the marriage license she acquired Thursday in Anne Arundel County Circuit in Annapolis, MD, to marry her partner, Adrianne Eathorne. [John Witte/AP]Congratulations, Washington and Maryland!!![Because of all of the Shakers who submitted photo links. Please feel welcome and urged to talk about links to related photos in comments.]