Voters in 3 states elected to enact marriage equality for the first time in the nation

In keeping with its mission of freedom of religion, the Universal Life Church is informing its approximate 22 million ordained ministers and, hence, wedding officiants that they are authorized to either perform or abstain from performing a same-sax marriage in the coming months.

Gay rights advocates are celebrating the ratification of legislation by the voting public on Nov. 6 that legalizes same-sax marriage in Washington, Maine and Maryland. This added three more states to the six that already allowed gay marriage: Connecticut, New York, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts (and Washington, D.C., too). However, the Nov. 6 votes were the first time voters decided the issue and not legislators.

Developments like this abound. For instance, Tammy Baldwin, elected in Wisconsin, became the first openly gay U.S. senator.

ULC wedding officiants should only perform a wedding after each state’s official date when the practice will be legal. Consult days in advance with local municipal offices to ensure all required documentation is on hand. Aside from that, perform a wedding as the newlyweds desire.

According to church doctrine, which was established in 1959, all that’s required of its ministers during the ceremonies is that they follow the church’s sole stricture: “Do only that which is right.”

“The ULC firmly believes in freedom of religion,” a church leader said, “and our ministers can express any honestly held beliefs so long as they do not break the law or hurt others. This includes either performing same-sex weddings or abstaining.”

The church worries that some gay couples may have difficulty finding a justice of the peace to perform officiant duties. That’s why it’s urging them to send who they want to perform the ceremony to be ordained online now for free.

That officiant can then perform a couple’s wedding in any fashion he or she so desires; as long as all legal documentation is properly handled and marriage license fees are paid in full.

In Washington, marriage licenses and certificates can be picked up from county auditor offices on Dec. 6; however, because of the state’s waiting period for marriages, certificates won’t able to be signed until Dec. 9.

In Maine, an official date for the first gay marriages had yet to be selected as of Nov. 8. The Bangor Daily News estimated recently that Jan. 5 would be the approximate first day. Check with local auditor offices.

In Maryland, gay couples can start getting married on Jan. 1.