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Anthony Aragon (L) and David Westman, both of Denver, Colorado, become one of the first same-sex couples to be issued a Civil Union license at a midnight ceremony in the Denver Office of the Clerk and Recorder, at the Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building on May 1, 2013 in Denver, Colo.

By Alexandra Tilsley, The Associated Press

The first gay couple granted a civil union in Colorado said their vows before hundreds of people early Wednesday morning at a downtown Denver municipal building, where eager couples and members of the public gathered to celebrate the first legal unions.

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Anna Simon of Denver, Colorado shows off the ticket that allowed her to be first in line to be issued a Civil Union license at the midnight ceremony.

The new law legalizing civil unions took effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday and both Denver and Boulder began issuing licenses immediately. 

Fran and Anna Simon were the first to receive a civil union certificate. Wearing the white wedding dresses they wore at their commitment ceremony seven years ago and joined by their five-year-old son Jeremy, Fran and Anna received their license from a clerk at 12:02 a.m., following an expectant countdown to midnight led by other couples. Minutes later they were joined in a ceremony officiated by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock.  Continue reading...

Marc Piscotty / Getty Images

People queue for a chance to be issued a Civil Union license at a midnight ceremony in the Denver Office of the Clerk and Recorder, at the Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building on May 1, 2013 in Denver, Colo.

Marc Piscotty / Getty Images

Anna (R) and Fran Simon, both of Denver, Colo., become the first same-sex couple to be issued a Civil Union license at the midnight ceremony.

Rick Wilking / Reuters

Fran (L) and Anna Simon kiss just after midnight after being the first to get a civil union in a ceremony performed by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock (R) in Denver May 1, 2013.

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Navesh Chitrakar / Reuters

A reveler holds the gay pride flag during the opening ceremony of the first South Asia Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, LGBT, Sports Festival in Kathmandu, October 12, 2012. The three-day long event is organized by the Blue Diamond Society, a LGBT rights group, to promote the equality, rights and social justice of LGBT through sports, according to Sunil Babu Pant, managing director of BDS.

Navesh Chitrakar / Reuters

An athlete practices during the first South Asia LGBT Sports Festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Oct. 12.

AFP reports — Hundreds of athletes Friday took part in Asia's first-ever sports tournament for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, organizers said.

The three-day event at the national football stadium and other venues around Kathmandu kicked off with a soccer match between local teams.

The tournament features basketball, volleyball, football, martial arts and tennis, said The Blue Diamond Society, Nepal's leading gay rights group.

Some 300 local athletes had signed up for the games while 20 gay athletes arrived from countries including the United States, Russia, Japan, France and Bangladesh, Pant said.

Gay Olympic diving gold champion Greg Louganis, who is attending the event, is the big draw.

New Zealand and Australia host the "Asia-Pacific Outgames", another multi-sports gay event. But the event in Nepal has been billed as Asia's first gay games.

Homosexuals in the overwhelmingly Hindu nation have started to become more open about their sexual orientation since the end to the decade-long Maoist civil war in 2006 with the gay community staging beauty contests and other events.

Nepal said in June it would start issuing identity cards with three gender categories -- male, female and transgender.

Navesh Chitrakar / Reuters

The shadow of a player casts on the ground while practicing volleyball during the opening ceremony of the first South Asia LGBT Sports Festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Oct. 12.

Navesh Chitrakar / Reuters

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender players participate in a friendly soccer match during the opening ceremony of the first South Asia LGBT Sports Festival in Kathmandu, Oct. 12.

Niranjan Shrestha / AP

Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community hold the gay pride flag during the opening ceremony of the first South Asian LGBT Games organized by Blue Diamond Society in Katmandu, Nepal, Oct. 12. Around 250 LGBT community members are participating in the festival, according to Nepal's first openly gay politician Sunil Babu Pant.

Navesh Chitrakar / Reuters

Nepalese police sit during the opening ceremony of the first South Asia LGBT Sports Festival in Kathmandu, Oct. 12.

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In the "Fashion of the World" category, contestants are encouraged to take their inspiration from cultures around the globe and make something truly "bizarre."

Drew Katchen / msnbc.com

A performer walks in the "Butch Queen European Runway" competition. In this category, contestants look to "the future and outer space" for inspiration.

Drew Katchen / msnbc.com

Two dancers face off in a 'vogue' battle.

Voguing, drag queens and “bizarre” costume competitions are all part of a vibrant dance scene in the gay community where performers battle it out in competitions known as "balls.” The Latex Ball, held in New York City every year and sponsored by the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, is considered the Academy Awards for this community, and msnbc.com had a front-row seat.

More photos in our slideshow.

More about the annual event.

Watch video from the event below: