Same-Sex Marriage Starts in Maryland, Hundreds Rally Against Westboro Baptist Protesters

More than 250 counter-protesters greeted four members of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) with signs, church hymns and cookies in Annapolis on Wednesday morning.

The WBC group came to Maryland's capital to protest at the Anne Arundel Circuit Court on Church Circle against same-sex marriage.

The church and its members have made headlines for years by picketing the funerals of soldiers, according to the Huffington Post. This isn't the first time the Kansas-based group has visited Anne Arundel County. Patch covered WBC's visits to Fort Meade in 2011 and Glen Burnie in 2012:

• Hundreds Demonstrate Against Westboro Baptist Church Near Fort Meade
• PHOTOS: Westboro Protest Unites Glen Burnie Community

Maryland voters upheld a law legalizing gay marriage in November, but the law took effect Tuesday. Since state offices were closed for New Year's Day, Wednesday was the first time couples could marry inside the Anne Arundel courthouse.

Across the street at St. Anne's Church, hundreds of people held signs saying things like "make love not hate" and "love is more divine than hate."

Click here to see the full story on Annapolis Patch.