Same-sex couple marry in Licking County court

NEWARK – No matter what happened with the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday, Melissa and Kylie Spears were going to get married Monday.

"We've been planning this for quite some time," Kylie said. "We were just trying to figure out what state we wanted to go to."

The first same-sex couple to wed in Licking County Municipal Court said they had been planning on a June 29 wedding date. Before the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Friday that legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states, they would have driven to West Virginia to marry Monday, but the historic ruling allowed them to drive only as far as Newark.

Melissa and Kylie live in Millersburg, a small town in Holmes County. They said they had tried to get married closer to home Monday but could not get a time scheduled anywhere else.

"It's really exciting," Kylie said of being the first same-sex couple to be married in Licking County. "I'm just so excited we didn't have to leave the state to do it."

Melissa, 22, and Kylie, 18, met seven months ago when Melissa bought a cellphone from Kylie through a website. Monday marked five months together as a couple.

After the Supreme Court decision was announced on Friday, Kylie rushed to the liquor store where Melissa works and convinced her to leave early so they could go apply for a license right away.

"We are the only ones in our town that are open about it," Melissa said. So on Friday, she said, both her and Kylie's phone were exploding with text messages and well-wishes from friends and family.

Judge David Stansbury officiated the wedding, noting its historic significance and congratulated the couple before the exchanging of rings. He also said he was glad to be a part of the moment in Licking County history.

As the couple joined hands to be wed, Melissa's nail polish sparkled on her left ring finger, which also bore the initials of Kylie in honor of the occasion.

Three marriage licenses for same-sex couples were issued by the court on Friday. Stansbury said that, although he was unsure whether any of those couples had already been married, he knew the Spears' wedding was the first to take place in the Licking County courtroom.

Kylie, formerly Kylie Wood, took Melissa's last name in the marriage. Also present were Melissa's son, Kobe, 7, and the couples' 3-month-old daughter, Kayshalee. Melissa's best friend, Brittany Seevers, also was there, taking pictures and video to document the event.

As the small party left the courtroom, they joked about getting used to introducing each other as their wife rather than a girlfriend.

abisaro@gannett.com

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