Same-sex marriage green light also enabled a new way to explore your date's background

Same-sex marriages in Florida marked their first anniversary last week. Aside from its huge social implications, the legality of gay marriage also signaled an important change for date inspectors.

The court ruling that made gay marriage legal and prompted a flock of same-sex couples to seek marriage licenses provided a new avenue for checking out relationships. The marriages of same-sex couples show up in public records just as they do for other married couples.

Same-sex relationships are more easily identified and confirmed than they have ever been in Florida, which is important for people in the dating game.

Various news organizations, including the Orlando Sentinel, reported that overall numbers of marriage licenses are up in Florida. However, the state doesn't keep track of marriages by sex.

The Sentinel story by Rene Stutzman goes on to say:

"In the first nine months of 2015, the most recent period for which numbers are available, Florida clerks issued 13 percent more marriage licenses than they did during the same period in 2014.

In the Orlando area and across Central Florida, the number is higher, as well. The most dramatic change is in Orange County, where there's been a 20 percent increase — 1,368 — in the first 9 months of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014."

To check on marriages in Florida by a particular county, check out this InspectaDate page. Try this search from the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers for at least a partial ability to search for marriages across various Florida counties at one time. Keep in mind that some clerk's offices post their marriage records online faster than others. Depending on the county, you may be able to see the image of the marriage license itself.

You won't get the information instantly, but the Florida Office of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville will do a statewide search for marriages in Florida for a fee.

Here are stories about the year anniversary of same-sex marriage in Florida from Tia Mitchell of The Florida Times-Union, Steve Rothaus of the The Miami-Herald and Dan Sweeney of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.