UNIVERSITY CITY • Three same sex couples were lined up by 8 a.m. at City Hall to become the first government-sanctioned domestic partnership couples anywhere in St.Louis County.

The University City City Council voted last month to become the first local government in the county to provide couples the opportunity to register. Registration opened today at 8 a.m. Partners on the registry will have the same rights as married spouses at any University City facility.

Charles Redmon, who is retired from IBM, and Arthur Loperena, retired from sales at Macy's, became the first on the registry. They have been partners for 42 years.

"We are overjoyed," Redmon said.

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