The first same-sex couples to legally marry in the state of Idaho are celebrating their three year anniversaries this week.
Looking back at October 15, 2014, Rachael and Amber Beierle find it hard to put their emotions into words.
"It was just this huge emotional... [pause]... party! A celebration!" the couple said one day after their three year wedding anniversary.
The Beierles were one of the first couples to exercise their rights as Idaho citizens to marry a partner of the same sex, tying the knot at City Hall the same morning same-sex marriage licenses were first issued.
"It allowed for us to be just like everybody else," Amber Beierle said. "We fight, we love, all those things just like everybody else, but we have that legitimacy, and that legal aspect that we just don't have to worry about."
While aware of the historical significance, the Beierles says the most memorable part of their wedding day, like most couples, was being surrounded by family, friends and overwhelming support.
"This started with advocates, you know, people that weren't necessarily gay, bisexual or any of those things, they were just people who wanted to make a change," Amber said.
According to the clerk's office, same-sex marriage licenses have steadily accounted for about three percent of marriage licenses issued in Ada County over the last three years. The only difference between same-sex certificates and traditional licenses are the terms "spouse and spouse" instead of "husband and wife".
