Bride or groom? Same-sex couples in New York face bureaucratic hurdle

(REUTERS)

Same-sex couples eager to marry in New York hit a bureaucratic snag yesterday when marriage licence applications made available to them for the first time still used the terms "bride" and "groom."

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Act into law on 24 June, making the state the sixth and most populous in the United States to allow gay marriage. It was not known if the online form seeking "Groom – Info" and "Bride – Info" was proving a temporary deterrent to applications for licences. Some decided to wait, but City Council spokesman Jamie McShane said that by the close of business, the city clerk's office reported a 20 per cent increase in online applications submitted since 27 June.

"I know things take time and being that there is only one option, if it was important for me to be married on 25 July, I would fill out the form as is," said Sandi Rowe, who wants to marry next year. She said she encourages wedding planning sites to change their language from the "bride/groom" option.

The Marriage Bureau was to begin performing ceremonies for same-sex couples on 25 July.