PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — About 10 same-sex couples have exchanged vows during a group wedding in Portland's largest park during an annual gay pride parade and festival.
Organizers held Saturday's mass wedding as a celebration of Maine's new gay marriage law, which was passed by voters in November and went into effect on Dec. 29.
Festival organizer Mark Holt said Southern Maine Pride has been on the forefront advocating for legalizing same-sex marriage for the 27 years it's put on the parade and festival. The theme of this year's event is "Marry Me."
Holt said about 10,000 people participated in this year's festival, which started with a noontime parade from the city's Monument Square to the park.