Gay 'weddings' held without a hitch

New York City joined the growing list of locales for same-sex marriages Thursday when two couples exhanged vows in a City Hall ceremony that blended ancient traditions and hot-button politics.,Although it is illegal in the state to perform a marriage without a license -- and each couple were rebuffed in getting one -- Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said Thursday that he would not take action against the two clergy members who performed the ceremonies. "The criminal courts are not the appropriate forum for the resolution of these issues," Morgenthau said in a statement. "Ultimately they will be resolved in civil lawsuits, at least two of which are now pending." The stance differs from two upstate DA's, who are pressing charges against mayor performing same-sex marriages.