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First-ever same-sex marriage performed in City of Utica

By WKTV News

Story Created: Jul 26, 2011 at 12:10 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 28, 2011 at 12:41 PM EDT

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The first-ever same-sex marriage was performed in the city of Utica on Tuesday morning.

The lesbian couple was married at 9 a.m. in the Common Council Chambers at Utica City Hall.

"We were happy to be married in Utica," Luzmaria and Billejo Acevedo said. "We were born and raised here and are proud of Utica."

City Clerk Joan Brenon, who married the couple, said the history-making ceremony was quiet and low-key.

"Very quiet, just close family, there were just three other family members besides the two of them. They wanted it personal and just quiet. It was uneventful and they just wanted their privacy. It was very nice," says Brenon.

Brenon expects she will be performing a lot of same-sex marriages; several couples, the vast majority of them female, have applied in her office for marriage licenses. Another couple, again, both female, are expected to be married Tuesday afternoon in city hall.

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