New law celebrated as gay couples marry in N.Y.

As McSweeney declared to the couple, “I now pronounce you married,’’ Siegel tenderly held Kopelov’s head and kissed her on the left cheek. “I am breathless,’’ said Siegel.

The first male couple, Marcos A. Chaljub, 29, and Freddy L. Zambrano, 30, both of Queens, wore matching white shirts, green ties, and black and white boat shoes - even their beards matched. After the newly married couple kissed for a sustained 12 seconds, a friend tossed rice grains out of a Ziploc bag and a small audience in the chapel erupted into loud applause.

New York is the sixth, and largest, state to legalize same-sex marriage. It joins Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, along with Washington, D.C.

Several other states are considering following suit, but most states have either laws or constitutional amendments barring same-sex marriage, and federal law bars the United States government from recognizing same-sex marriages.

In New York City, 823 couples had signed up in advance to get marriage licenses yesterday. Marriage offices in each borough were open, with some drawing more than others. In some places, small groups of protesters with signs were on hand as well, denouncing the new law. But there were no reports of major disturbances.

By late morning, hundreds of people were still waiting in line outside the office in Manhattan. Those who emerged after being married were greeted with cheers from passersby, a cadre of journalists seeking interviews, and even the congratulations of police officers assigned to keep order.

The City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, who is openly gay, witnessed the first marriages in Manhattan. “To hear a judge say, ‘By the laws of our state’? It sent a chill up my spine,’’ Quinn said.