Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

State Sen. Kelvin Atkinson proposes after gay marriage ruling

Celebration At The Center

Steve Marcus

State Sen. Kelvin Atkinson, left, D-North Las Vegas, and his partner Sherwood Howard embrace after Atkinson publicly proposed to Howard during a celebration at The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada (The Center) Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014. People gathered to celebrate a ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that overturned Nevada’s prohibition on gay marriage.

Updated Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014 | 7:35 p.m.

Celebration at The Center

Sherwood Howard and State Sen. Kelvin Atkinson, D-North Las Vegas, kiss after Atkinson publicly proposed to Howard during a celebration at The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada (The Center) Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014. People gathered to celebrate a ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that overturned Nevada's prohibition on gay marriage. Launch slideshow »

Nevada Democratic state Sen. Kelvin Atkinson says he proposed to his partner immediately after hearing that an appeals court had overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

Atkinson said he called his partner, Sherwood Howard, on Tuesday afternoon to break the news about the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling and also to pop the question.

He said he hoped to discuss wedding plans on the phone call, but didn't make much progress because Howard was crying.

Atkinson said the two have been together for about 6 1/2 years and planned on getting married, but didn't want to do it in another state.

Clark County will start accepting marriage license applications from same-sex couples at 2 p.m. Wednesday, and Atkinson said he wants to tie the knot as soon as possible.

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