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Slideshow: Sworn on the 4th of July

Over 40 same-sex couples were married on Independence Day at the Texas state Capitol in what organizers billed as a "Big Gay Wedding" in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that bans on such unions are unconstitutional.

By Tamir Kalifa

July 5, 201510 AM Central

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Couples line up prior to the start of the "Big Gay Wedding" ceremony that united over 40 same-sex couples on the south lawn of the Texas State Capitol in Austin on July 4, 2015. — Credit: Tamir Kalifa

Over 40 same-sex couples and hundreds of friends, family members and supporters gathered on the south lawn of the Texas State Capitol in Austin for the first ever "Big Gay Wedding" that married any same-sex couples who presented a valid marriage license on July 4, 2015. — Credit: Tamir Kalifa

Donn Gauger and Maxx Judd, who have been together for 11 years, fix each other's boutonnieres prior to the "Big Gay Wedding" ceremony that united over 40 same-sex couples on the south lawn of the Texas State Capitol in Austin on July 4, 2015.

Glen Maxey, who was the first openly gay member of the Texas Legislature, gives remarks prior to the ceremony that married over 40 same-sex couples on the south lawn of the Texas State Capitol in Austin on July 4, 2015. — Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune

Couples embrace at the conclusion of the "Big Gay Wedding" ceremony on the south lawn of the Texas Capitol on July 4 after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in June. — Credit: Tamir Kalifa

Kristin Taber and Pamela Holwerda, who travelled to Austin from Bell County, are pictured moments after being legally married on the south lawn of the Texas State Capitol in Austin on July 4, 2015. Taber and Holwerda have been together for 21 years. — Credit: Tamir Kalifa

Pamela Holwerda and Kristin Taber hold hands after exchanging rings during a marriage ceremony that united over 40 same-sex couples in matrimony.

Pamela Holwerds holds up her marriage license following the ceremony that married over 40 same-sex couples on the south lawn of the Texas Capitol in Austin on July 4, 2015. — Credit: Tamir Kalifa for the Texas Tribune

Herbert Clayson Cloete and Mark Chavez smile as they watch Jodie Flint, who officiated the "Big Gay Wedding" ceremony, sign their marriage license on July 4, 2015 in Austin. — Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune

Kate Messer poses for a picture while Kai Gadd-Shefman tosses flowers in the air following the "Big Gay Wedding" ceremony that married over 40 same-sex couples on the south lawn of the Texas State Capitol in Austin on July 4, 2015. — Credit: Tamir Kalifa

Many couples brought flowers and signs with them to the ceremony. — Credit: Tamir Kalifa

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