In a joyous ceremony early Monday morning, Senator-elect Cory Booker, acting as the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, officiated the state's first same sex marriage -- and put a heckler in his place along the way.
"Alright," he said. "Now, I have to do this by law, and I warn you -- in my last days as mayor, I still control the police department. So, before we exchange the vows, I must ask if anyone present here today knows of any reason why [Joseph Panessidi and Orville Bell] should not be married, speak now or forever hold your peace."
A man's voice echoed out from the crowd: "This is unlawful in the sight of God!" He continued screaming as murmurs swept across the crowd.
"Well sir, well sir," Booker began, before ordering the police to remove the heckler.
"And not hearing any substantive, worthy objection, I now will proceed," he said to a roar of cheers.
The state began recognizing same sex marriage at midnight on Monday thanks to a court order. Gov. Chris Christie (R) initially filed an appeal of that order with the New Jersey Supreme Court, but the court refused to issue a stay and Christie's effort to stop LGBT people from having equal rights was withdrawn mere hours after Booker officiated the first marriage ceremony.
Mayor Cory Booker officiates first same-sex marriage in New Jersey (via NJ.com, October 21, 2013)