A US officiant marries 10 same-sex couples in Hong Kong via video chat

Ten same-sex couples have gotten married in the United States over the internet from Hong Kong. The semi-autonomous southern Chinese city does not formally recognize such unions but offers them legal protections. The event Tuesday was timed to mark Pride Month. A registered officiant from the American state of Utah married the couples. Wedding organizer Kurt Tung hopes the event sends a message to the public. Hong Kong only recognizes weddings between couples made up of a man and a woman. Self-governing Taiwan is the closest place that issues same-sex marriages, and Hong Kong recognizes those couples' legal rights.