(BBC Berlin, October 1, 2017) Two men have become the first gay couple to marry in Germany, on the day gay marriage became legal there.

(Photo at Left:) Karl Kreile and Bodo Mende, a couple for 38 years, exchanged their vows at the town hall in Schoneberg, Berlin.

Registry offices in several German cities were opening, unusually, on Sunday to allow couples to wed on the first day it was legally possible.

Getting married will give gay couples the same tax advantages and adoption rights as heterosexual couples.

Germany has allowed same-sex partners to enter into registered partnerships since 2001, but these did not give couples exactly the same status in German law as marriage.

(Note from Ron) We have been out of town for a few days and will be catching up today on postings and answering mail.