WATCH: Same-sex couples in North Carolina apply for marriage licenses

Today, the Buncombe County Register of Deeds in North Carolina, Drew Reisinger, began accepting applications from same-sex couples for marriage licenses, saying that he would formally request approval for granting the licenses from the NC Attorney General, Roy Cooper. It is the first time since the June 2013 Supreme Court decision striking down the central part of DOMA that marriage license applications have been accepted in North Carolina.

Ten couples in North Carolina successfully applied for marriage licenses as part of an action with the Campaign for Southern Equality, which mobilizes same-sex coupless in the South to apply for marriage licenses and provoke denials to demonstrate what marriage discrimination looks like when it is enforced. When they - and ten other couples - applied, Reisinger accepted their application while withholding his own signature and indicating that he will be requesting permission from the Attorney General to grant the couples licenses. 

One of the couples is Brenda and Carol (right), who have been together for 25 years and have raised two children in the state. Reisinger accepted thier marriage license application, saying, "It seems that y'all qualify for every reason under the law except for your sexual orientation, and we think there are some real constitutional questions that are raised in that. I took an oath to uphold the state of North Carolina's Constitution. I also took an oath to uphold the United States Constitution. And the United States Constitution demands equal rights for all people, and so that's what we're going to ask the Attorney General to look over for us. My hope is that he will grant me permission to grant y'all this license. For now we're going to hold onto this license until I can get permission from the Attorney General to accept this."

He added, "I am very proud of y'all for coming in here, and thank y'all for your courage, and thank you for consistently asking me for marriage licenses, and hopefully it won't be long until I can turn this back around to you." Watch the full video:

Nine other couples successfully submitted their application forms for marriage licenses. Check out the photos, and learn more about the Campaign for Southern Equality HERE.