By Chris Pleasance PUBLISHED: 10:55 EST, 17 January 2014 | UPDATED: 12:02 EST, 17 January 2014 Annise Parker, the mayor of Houston, has married her longtime partner Kathy Hubbard in a sunset ceremony at a private residence in Palm Springs, California. A small group of family and friends, including Parker's mother and Hubbard's sister, attended the service on Thursday. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Paul Fromberg, rector of St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco. House Mayor Annise Parker (right) and her long-time partner, Kathy Hubbard, celebrate at their wedding on Thursday in Palm Springs, California
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Annise Parker has married her 23-year partner Kathy Hubbard
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The pair travelled to California to take part in sunset ceremony
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Parker will now benefit from employee benefits usually given to mixed sex couples after she recently extended the law to include same sex couples
Kathy Hubbard
Kathy Hubbard
Kathy Hubbard
'@placeholder has been by my side for more than two decades, helping to raise a family, nurture my political career and all of the other ups and downs and life events that come with a committed relationship.
Annise Parker
Parker
Annise Parker
Annise Parker
Parker
Ms @placeholder has previously stated that she wanted to get married in Houston, but acknowledged that being able to do so may be a long time in coming.