Four years ago nearly 4,000 gay couples were married in San Francisco, only to find their unions annulled by the state’s supreme court within months. But from yesterday many of those same couples, and thousands more, were expected to take advantage of the court’s latest ruling permitting gay partners to become “spouses for life”.

The ruling was due to come into force at 5.01pm yesterday, barring further legal challenges. Several counties and cities planned to keep their clerk’s offices open late to hold the first ceremonies.

Full Story: Guardian