Colorado wasted no time in embracing marriage equality last week after the Supreme Court declined to review the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals' pro-equality decision in cases involving Utah and Oklahoma. The decision sets precedent for the entire circuit, of which Colorado is part, and while some states in this and other circuits are resisting marriage equality, Colorado attorney general John Suthers Monday ordered county clerks across the state to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Below, see photos of some of the first same-sex couples married in the Rocky Mountain State as well as a celebratory rally in Denver.
Anna (left) and Fran Simon are legally wed by Denver mayor Michael Hancock as the couple's son, Jeremy, and out City Council member Robin Kniech provide witness.
Outgoing Speaker of the House Mark Ferrandino and Sen. Pat Steadman address the crowd gathered at Wednesday's rally. Both out lawmakers are longtime advocates who were instrumental in passing civil unions legislation that helped pave the way and demonstrate the need for marriage equality in Colorado.
From left: Sabrina and Amanda Jackman and Jon Williams and husband Theo seal their newly legal unions with a kiss in Grand Junction.
Sabrina Jackman (front) and her soon-to-be-wife, Amanda Jackman, fill out the first marriage license issued to a same-sex couple in Mesa County.
From left: Theo and Jon Williams and Amanda and Sabrina Jackman are all smiles as they become the first same-sex couples legally married in Mesa County.
Derek Andersen Degenhart (left) kisses his longtime partner and new husband, Aram Andersen Degenhart, after making it official in Mesa County.
Denver-area residents Lauren Fortmiller (left) and Pam Thiele were one of the first same-sex couples to enter into a civil union last year. They plan to obtain a marriage license in Denver over the coming days.
The crowd assembles near the steps of the Denver-based 10th Circuit Court of Appeals Wednesday to celebrate the arrival of marriage equality in Colorado.
Colorado governor John Hickenlooper addresses the crowd.
Tim Gill, Colorado-based philanthropist and founder and chair of the Gill Foundation, speaks at the rally.
Dave Montez, executive director of One Colorado, the state's leading statewide LGBT advocacy group, joins the celebration his group cohosted as a member of the Why Marriage Matters Colorado coalition.
U.S. senator Mark Udall, a longtime supporter of marriage equality, speaks to the crowd.
Anna (left) and Fran Simon are legally wed by Denver mayor Michael Hancock as the couple's son, Jeremy, and out City Council member Robin Kniech provide witness. 
