Rally celebrates first day of gay marriages in Fla.

MELBOURNE, Fla. — Waving signs bearing slogans like "Finally!" "Equal," "#lovewins" and "One Human Family," about 70 cheering people celebrated Florida's first day of legal same-sex marriages Tuesday.

Space Coast Pride organized the twilight rally, which occurred along a stretch of sidewalk decorated with small U.S. flags.

A steady procession of passing motorists heeded a "Honk For Love" sign, beeping throughout the hourlong event. Rally attendees chanted "Equality!" and other axioms in unison.

"For 67 years, I've waited for this day. Back in the day, we had to worry and be afraid and lose our jobs and be beaten -- even murdered," said Rose Rubino, Space Coast Pride vice president.

"It's a long time coming," she said.

West Melbourne couple Tara Jones and Greta Williams picked up a marriage license Tuesday afternoon at the Brevard County Clerk of Courts branch office in Palm Bay. They waved signs during the rally alongside Jones' biological daughter, Mady, a high school junior.

"I'm relieved that we'll be able to have the same protections, especially for our daughter. We've been together 11 years," Tara Jones said.

Jones and Williams met online in April 2004. On their first date, they attended a Melissa Etheridge concert at House of Blues in Orlando. They plan to marry in February on the beach in Satellite Beach.

"I'm shocked that it's actually legal to get married in Florida. I never actually thought that it would become legal in Florida, just because it's a very Republican state and there's a lot of views against it," Williams said.

Neale also reports for Florida Today