Of the ten couples who registered Friday morning, some are gay and some are straight.  While they were celebrating, the registry’s most outspoken opponent says it will hurt the tourist town’s image.

   The party at city hall started early Friday morning as a line of couples made their partnerships official.  Michael Walsh wrote the ordinance and was visibly overjoyed.

  "This feels like a major triumph for civil rights,” said Walsh.

  Mayor Dani Wilson shared the celebratory mood but says the certificate doesn't carry with it any legal rights.

  "It’s just a piece of paper that says ‘I'm committed to this other person.’  That's it,” said Wilson.

  But the Rev. Phillip Wilson says it’s enough to hurt the town.

  "They have successfully positioned Eureka Springs as the most anti-family and anti-marriage city in the state of Arkansas,” said the minister.

  The Rev. Wilson says the city will no longer attract vacationing families.

  "I don't think most moms and dad want to bring their children to a city to watch homosexuals kiss on the courthouse steps,” he said.

  An hour after it opened, the line outside the courthouse was gone but supporters say it doesn't matter how many sign up.  They want this to send a message to the nation.

  "This is a remarkable community of broad minded independent thinkers and we won't be told what to do by churches or political parties,” said Jan Ridenour.

  Jan and Kim Ridenouer, who are lesbians, were the first to make their domestic partnership official.  They say it could help some people qualify for health insurance at thousands of companies and they expect Eureka Springs could become a tourist attraction for unmarried couples, straight and gay.

  "It gives them the opportunity to reach out to the 9,000 companies that offer domestic benefits and offer their employees to come to town," said Ridenour.

  "At this point they've won,” said the Rev. Wilson.  "We're trying to discern legally whether her declining our petition was actually based on law or whether it was a capricious decision based upon a personal agenda."

  Mayor Wilson says to stop it now would take more than a petition.

  "From what I understand, it would take a court injunction to stop it," she said.

  The Rev. Wilson says he will wait 90 days to decide what to do next. 

  Walsh hatched the idea of a registry with two friends and says watching couples celebrate their partnerships at the courthouse was a dream come true.

  "A victory here for human rights is a victory everywhere for human rights.  We're hoping and proving Eureka can now lead by example,” said Walsh.