Jane Abbott Lighty, left, and her partner Pete-e Petersen raise their right hands as they take an oath while receiving the first marriage license for a same-sex couple in King County, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, in Seattle. AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

Today, gay and lesbian couples are able to get marriage licenses in Maryland and Washington states, the first where couples can get married after the landslide victories from the November 4 election.

Couples in Washington are able to get married starting today.  In Maryland, while couples can get their licenses, marriages equality does not go into effect until New Year’s Day. Maryland’s Herald-Mail explains:

Attorney General Doug Gansler issued an opinion last month allowing the state’s circuit courts to start issuing licenses to same-sex couples on Thursday — one month after the election — for marriages that can then take place after the law goes into effect Jan. 1.

If you are planning to get married in Washington, the Peninsula Daily News out of Port Angeles, WA put together a Q&A.

Maine’s marriage equality law will take effect on December 29. On January 1, gay and lesbian couples will be able to marry in nine states and our nation’s capital.

If you are getting married, tell us your love story and you could be featured on AFER’s blog.