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Guam First US Territory to Recognize Gay Marriage

CBN

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The island of Guam became the first U.S. territory to recognize same-sex marriages Tuesday.

The news comes after a U.S. district judge struck down Guam's law against same-sex marriage Friday after a lawsuit from a lesbian couple.

About three same-sex couples lined up early Tuesday for marriage licenses.

The lesbian couple who sued based their case on a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision in favor of same-sex marriage. The U.S. District Court of Guam falls under the 9th Circuit.

Same-sex couples can now marry in 36 states, the District of Columbia and Guam, mostly due to rulings by judges who overthrew voter-approved state amendments blocking same-sex marriage.

The developments in Guam come as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to issue a decision on same-sex marriage later this month.

About 160,000 people live on Guam, an island about 3,800 miles west of Hawaii. Its residents are U.S. citizens.

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