On Wednesday, Multnomah County became the first Northwest jurisdiction to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples.

In the first day, the county issued more than 400 marriage licenses -- a record day and making Northwest history.

On the steps outside the County Office Building, a Universal Life Minister announced before two women, "and with the power vested in me, I now pronounce you married!"

With those words, Multnomah County joined the battle over gay marriage.

After researching the issue and getting two legal opinions, the commissioners decided Oregon's Constitution would not allow them to discriminate against same-sex couples. The Chairwoman of the Board of Commissioners ordered the clerk to begin issuing marriage licenses.

"When we heard that," said Rick Raymen of Portland, "we're like, 'Let's get married!' So we got the tuxes out, called my mom, she's all excited, so we're making it official."

Hundreds of gay couples had the same idea, willing to wait hours in line in the cold and rain, to make their commitment to each other legal.

"I'm just excited, I'm excited and a little nervous," said Bernadette Kuzov of Kingston. She and her partner, Julie Keim, decided to drive down from Kingston after they heard the news on KOMO 4 News.

"11:30 last night, if you can believe that," said Keim about how they made the decision to head to Portland. "It wasn't hard once we decided what we wanted to do; pack up and let's go!"

Impromptu weddings took place on sidewalks and street corners. Supportive ministers were on hand to help.

"As long as I can be here and as long as people want to get married here that's what we'll do," said Minister Marlene of the Universal Life Church.

A small number of protesters stayed within a roped off area. "It's wrong, it's not natural, it's wrong," argued Cathryn of Portland who would not give her last name. The protesters barely affected the couples waiting in line.

"It's sweeping the country," said Raymen, "Bush is not gonna stop this, I mean we have a right to be married just like anybody else."

Lynn Tessier and Carol Boehm spent a lot of their 22 years together in the closet. Words can't express what this day meant to them.

"We're recognized as a person, as people," said Tessier. She couldn't even finish her thoughts, she was too choked up to talk. Her partner Boehm added, "you know we get used to living, there's shame, I mean we're in our 60's so you can imagine."

Such a crush of people showed up at the licensing building Wednesday, the County extended its hours until 6 p.m. and still couldn't handle all the applications. They'll be back issuing marriage licenses Thursday morning at 8 a.m.

Some protesters are planning to mount a recall drive against the four commissioners behind the licensing. Rather than going through a public, open meeting process, they opted to have the Board Chairman issue an executive order after obtaining two different legal opinions on the issue.