Milwaukee Co. Courthouse open Saturday for same-sex marriages

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee County Courthouse will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 7th to allow same-sex couples to receive marriage licenses. The Courthouse stayed open until 9 p.m. on Friday.

After a federal judge ruling Wisconsin's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, Nicole and Jen had to start planning a wedding.

"It`s lifted! It`s done! There`s no more ban," said Michelle Lipsco, newlywed. "It was like, `Oh, my God! We have to go do this! Let`s go! Let`s go! We`re gonna do this!"

Saturday morning, they are not alone, as they line-up outside of the Milwaukee County Courthouse more than two hours before the doors open.

One woman says that she's been waiting a long time for this moment, here in Wisconsin.

But three protesters have not, as they share signs indicating their position against same-sex marriage.

"There were people who protested when women got the right to vote. There were people who protested the Equal Rights Amendment. There were people who protested the Civil Rights Act," said Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abel.

The protest does not prevent the matrimonial march inside, where dozens are receiving their marriage licenses, including Reverend Erik Koepnick.

"Yesterday, I was able to preside over the first gay marriage in the state of Wisconsin," said Koepnick.

Saturday, it's the reverend himself, who is getting hitched. Thanks in part to overtime effort being put in by courthouse staff, and potentially paid for by the county exec, himself.

"What I said is, `Look, I`ll cover whatever we need to, that`s not in the budget, already.` I mean, the worst reason to not be able to get married, after 30 years, is, in this case, cost," said Abele.

Couples interested in getting married should use the entrance off of Wells Street, between 9th and 10th Streets.