Houston: Houston`s Mayor Annise Parker has married her long-time partner Kathy Hubbard at a private ceremony in California, as America`s second most populous state Texas does not legally recognise the same-sex marriages.
"I am privileged to now be the wife of the woman I have loved for more than 2 decades. I couldn`t be happier. We said our vows today," the Mayor tweeted on Thursday.
According to a statement issued by Parker`s office, the two chose January 16 as their wedding date because it marked their 23rd anniversary of being together.
The ceremony, held at sunset at a private home in Palm Springs in California, was attended by a small group of family and friends of the couple, including Parker`s mother and Hubbard`s sister, the statement said.
"This is a very happy day for us," said Parker, the first openly gay Mayor of a major US city," it said.
"We have had to wait a very long-time to formalise our commitment to each other. Kathy has been by my side for more than two decades, helping to raise a family, nurture my political career and all of the other ups and down and life events that come with a committed relationship. She is the love of my life and I can`t wait to spend the rest of my life married to her," Parker said.
On the subject of insurance, the Mayor`s office said that Hubbard has "other insurance options available to her" and will not participate in the city`s health insurance benefits programme for the spouses of legally-married city employees.
In November, Houston began offering benefits to same-sex couples who were married in a state where same-sex marriage was legal.