New Jersey's first same-sex marriage ceremony was performed Monday in Asbury Park.

In a written statement, City Clerk Dawn Tomek called it "a matter of fundamental civil and Constitutional rights."

She said New Jersey is one of 12 states that have no statute expressly banning same-sex marriages and that nothing in state law defines marriage as the exclusive province of opposite-sex couples.

Two men were married in City Hall after being issued a license by city officials. About 10 people attended the ceremony.

Asbury Park officials say six other applications for same-sex weddings are pending.

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In Seattle, Mayor Greg Nickels admits he lacks the authority to issue same-sex marriage licenses.

But he's issued an executive order that tells the city to recognize the weddings of its own municipal employees who are gay and who have been married elsewhere.

Nickels has also proposed extending protections for gay married couples throughout Seattle.

Nickels' position is being labeled a form of anarchy by the head of Washington's Christian Coalition.

Monday, six gay couples from the Seattle area filed suit seeking the right to get married.

They had applied for marriage licenses at the county administration building in Seattle, but were turned away because of a state law defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

In Nebraska, an Omaha group is planning to rally against Nebraska's ban on same-sex unions.

The Metropolitan Community Church plans to protest May 16 in Omaha. The next day, 200 gay and lesbian couple will go to the Douglas County Courthouse to apply for marriage licenses.

"It will be an opportunity for us to celebrate with our families and to demonstrate to others that we have families and family values," said Rev. Barbara Sagat.

Sagat and her partner, Sharon Stover, expect the same response they've received the last two years they've attempted to apply for a license. The clerk showed them the information, but refused to issue the licenses because Sagat and Stover are both female.

"We know that at this time, she cannot do that, but we will keep going until she is able to," said Sagat. "And we believe that the laws will change."

In 2002, Nebraska voters passed an initiative, 416, that bans same-sex unions.

"I don't think the people of Nebraska knew what they were doing when they passed 416," said Sagat. "I honestly don't. Because I can't believe that there's a group of people in this country that is that cruel."

Sagat, Stover and their congregation hope their demonstrations put a face to this issue and sways support to their side.

"They'll begin to reconsider," Sagat said. "They'll begin to understand that our relationships are valid, that our love is just as real and that perhaps what was done when 416 was passed was a mistake."

Meanwhile, in San Francisco, some of the thousands of couples who have been married there have gone to the Department of Motor Vehicles to apply for name changes, just as heterosexual couples can.

Recent weeks have seen dramatic moves in the debate over gay marriage: the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court said the state cannot prevent homosexual marriages under its Constitution; the mayor of San Francisco ordered city clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, possibly in violation of state law; Bush called for an amendment; the mayor of New Paltz, N.Y., issued licenses and officiated ceremonies and was charged with 19 criminal counts; and an Oregon county began offering marriages.

Some states have also begun moving toward constitutional amendments banning gay marriages.