November 12, 2008 Inside the courtroom: Connecticut legalizes gay marriage Play video

(NECN: New Haven, Conn.) - Gay marriage is now officially allowed in the state of Connecticut. New Haven Superior Court Judge Jonathan Silbert held a brief ruling Wednesday morning and ruled that gay and lesbian couples can pick up marriage license forms at town and city clerks' offices statewide.

Eight couples had successfully challenged a state law prohibiting gay marriages in the state Supreme Court last month.

The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled 4-3 on Oct. 10 that same-sex couples have the right to wed rather than accept a civil union law designed to give them the same rights as married couples.

According to the state public health department, there have been 2,032 civil union licenses issued in Connecticut between Oct. 2005 and July 2008.

Only Connecticut and Massachusetts have legalized gay marriage.