Two male Spanish air force privates wed

Two male air force privates wed in a ceremony on Friday, the first known marriage of two military servicemen since the once-conservative Catholic country's legalization of gay marriage.

Photo: Two male Spanish air force privates wed

Two male Spanish air force privates wed

Alberto Linero, 27, and Alberto Sanchez, 24, wore crisp dark blue dress uniforms as they exchanged vows for the ceremony in an ornate chandeliered reception hall in Seville's town hall.

Some members of the military may not be happy about the union, but the Defense Ministry has said it considers the wedding a personal matter and the men will be allowed to continue with their careers. It had no comment Friday on the nuptials.

The two grooms were married by Seville Mayor Alfredo Sanchez Monteseirin, who said their wedding marked a victory for gay people everywhere who have suffered from discrimination for years.

"This is not just your wedding. You symbolize millions of people who are not here and suffer from homophobia," said Sanchez Monteseirin.

After they were pronounced spouses, Linero and Sanchez placed gold rings on each other's fingers and shared a long kiss. The 100-strong audience clapped enthusiastically.

The mayor is a member of the ruling Socialist party, which legalized gay marriage last year and has pushed through other liberal laws including fast-track divorce and less onerous terms for medically assisted fertilization, reports AP.

The laws have irked the Roman Catholic church and the country's conservative establishment, which has accused the government of tearing away at the nation's traditional values.

Addressing a gaggle of reporters after the ceremony, Linero said the wedding was a small step towards complete equality for homosexuals.

"We've done our little bit, we hope society realizes this," said Linero.