Clark County's Marriage License Department at the Clark County Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., will offer extended hours for the next three days to accommodate an expected influx of gay couples wishing to marry:
o 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.
Equality Southwest Washington volunteers started welcoming couples at midnight at the service center. They were issuing numbers to the first 200 couples in line.
The doors at the service center open at 7 a.m. so visitors can use restrooms and purchase snacks at the cafe. Refreshments will be offered to people waiting in line throughout the day courtesy of Starbucks, Women Democrats of Clark County, First Congregational United Church of Christ of Vancouver, Unitarian Universalist Church of Vancouver and other donors and volunteers. Marriage applicants are required to enter the service center through the parking garage in order to keep an orderly line. Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt will read a proclamation and congratulate couples at noon.
Equality Southwest Washington has also organized public wedding events beginning Dec. 9, the first day gay couples may wed, due to a mandatory three-day waiting period.
Public weddings will be held:
o Dec. 9-12 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Esther Short Park, 610 Esther St.
o Dec. 9 from midnight to 4 a.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1220 N.E. 68th St. in Vancouver.
o Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Red Cross Building, 605 E. Barnes St.
-- Paris Achen