They were lined up in front of the Fresno County clerk's office in downtown Fresno on Tuesday morning. Over 100 gay and lesbian couples waited to either marry or to get their marriage license. Tuesday was the first full day that same-sex couples could legally marry or obtain marriage licenses in California.

In the first hour after the doors opened, at least 25 couples had wed or were waiting to be married. Many others were filling out the license paperwork.

The first to be wed was an African-American lesbian couple who have been together for over 10 years. Their moms were present when they were married by retired Fresno judge A. Dennis Caeton.

Noticeably absent were anti-marriage protesters. A counter protest was expected, so County Clerk Victor Salazar had security in and around his offices increased. Fresno police on horseback and in vehicles, and county security officers were visible.

Local supporters of same-sex marriage also turned out in force to support those taking the plunge. Members of several community groups, including Central California Alliance, No On The Initiative, and United Student Pride (the LGBT group at Cal State, Fresno) mingled with the couples.

Elsewhere around the Valley, protesters were expected to be at the Tulare County Courthouse as marriages begin in Visalia. The Kern County clerk opted to stop performing marriages altogether; ceremonies are planned to be held on the grounds of the county administration building in downtown Bakersfield.

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