Our readers get married: gay and lesbian couples from around the world talk about the special day they said "I do".Years together 5 1/2 Legally united August 31, 2002 Mary Mueller, 24, and Mary Franklin, 25 Residence: Chicago United in Vermont Neither of us knew we were gay until we met each other at the University of Evansville in Indiana, and it was love at first sight. Mary formally proposed to me at Navy Pier in Chicago in 2000 while we were watching fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to at my cousin's rooftop wedding reception. I gave her a ring a few months later. After college we decided to go to Vermont for the ceremony, be cause we wanted to support the state for being more open-minded than others. We had our civil union ceremony in Montgomery Center, Vt. It was quite an experience. Our bed-and-breakfast was packed with immediate family, and the justice of the peace was a bit eccentric. But it was the most perfect wedding we could've had. To keep it small, without all rite rigmarole rig·ma·role also rig·a·ma·role n. 1. Confused, rambling, or incoherent discourse; nonsense. 2. A complicated, petty set of procedures. of most weddings today, we really kept the focus on what it's all about the two of us committing to be together for the rest of our lives. Years together 4 1/2 Partnered September 28, 2002 Jesse Brix, 30, and Travis McBurney, 30 Residence: Seattle Partnered in Washington State We met at the Timberline timberline, elevation above which trees cannot grow. Its location is influenced by the various factors that determine temperature, including latitude, prevailing wind directions, and exposure to sunlight. Bar in Seattle. Travis was up for the weekend from his home in San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden . Although our encounter was brief, it was love at first sight, and before long Travis moved to Seattle to be with me. Having a traditional church wedding seemed like the most natural thing that we could have done, given our love for each other. It was the most magical day of our lives. We didn't have "groomsmen" or "bridesmaids"; we each had six "honor attendants," three male and three female. My parents and Travis's father also participated in the ceremony and walked with us down the aisle--it was really incredible. We also took the opportunity to register as domestic partners with the city of Seattle (which offers us no rights). After the ceremony, the officiate of·fi·ci·ate v. of·fi·ci·at·ed, of·fi·ci·at·ing, of·fi·ci·ates v.intr. 1. To perform the duties and functions of an office or a position of authority. 2. To serve as an officiant. signed our domestic-partner registration certificate, kind of a symbolic way for us to combine rite spiritual aspect of our wedding with the document. Years together 5 Married May 4, 2001 Martha McDevitt-Pugh, 45, and Lin McDevitt-Pugh, 49 Residence: Amsterndam Married in the Netherlands We married in Amsterdam about a month after the Netherlands opened up marriage to same-sex couples. We had been together for two years, though we had been friends for 16 before that. Standing there in that moment and experiencing the love of the people who are most important to us was an incredible experience. We had family and friends from all over the globe attend our ceremony. The vows we wrote and spoke to each other are with us every day. We promised to always be present to the love hi our relationship. On bad days we cheek in with each other and ask, "Are you present to the love in our relationship?" It quickly gets us back to where we want to be: loving partners, committed to each other, in this together no matter what. Years together 5 Married May 25, 2001 Leslie Duran, 37, and Ingrid van Kesteren, 40 Residence: Courtenay, Canada Married in the Netherlands We got married in the beautiful town of Haarlem, 30 kilometers west of Amsterdam--one of the first American-Dutch couples to get legally married in the Netherlands--on a very sunny day in May. We had a small ceremony in Haarlem's 16th-century town hall. I returned to the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. alone, as Ingrid had some work in the Netherlands. Coming through American immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. at the airport, I was asked by an official whether the purpose of my trip was business or pleasure. "It was pleasure," I said. "I got married to a Dutch citizen!" The official asked if my husband was with me and I said, "Ah, in Holland now it is legal for persons of the same sex to get married. So I actually got married to another woman." There was a long pause, but as I left the checkpoint he called out "Congratulations!" Years together 58 Married November 12, 2003 Gustavo Archilla, 88, and Elmer Lokkins, 84 After a 58-year courtship, Gus and I exchanged marriage vows Marriage vows are promises a couple makes to each other during a wedding ceremony. Civil ceremonies often allow couple's to choose their own vows, although many civil marriage vows are adapted from the traditional Catholic wedding vow "To have and to hold, from this day before a chap lain mid two witnesses in a Canadian town just outside of Niagara Falls Niagara Falls, waterfall, United States and Canada Niagara Falls, in the Niagara River, W N.Y. and S Ont., Canada; one of the most famous spectacles in North America. The falls are on the international line between the cities of Niagara Falls, N.Y. . While on a trip to Buffalo to visit Gus's ailing brother, we decided to have the wedding ceremony that we've always wanted. The night before we left our apartment in Manhattan (which we've shared since 1957), I had thought about being married in Canada. So we decided to drive from Buffalo to Niagara Falls, where we purchased a marriage license before driving to nearby Fenwick, Ont. We were married at the home of John Mayer
John Clayton Mayer (born October 16, 1977) is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. de Berncastle, a Unitarian chaplain. Gus's sister-in-law, Beulah, and her brother, Harold Adams, came to witness the event. Mayer said that we were the oldest couple he had ever married. That evening, back in Buffalo, Gus's brother and his wife, along with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, feted us with cake and champagne. Screened into the white cake frosting frosting the slight graying of the haircoat around the face, particularly muzzle, in dogs with aging and as a regular feature of some breeds such as the Belgian shepherd dog. was a photographic image of us dressed in our tuxedos, taken while we were vacationing on the cruise ship QE2 in September. We were delighted. Years together 5 Nick Marulli, 45, and Tim Bennett, 36 Residence: Crofton, Md. United in Vermont Our decision to go to Vermont and have a legal union was an easy one. We are very much in love and very devoted to each other. We had a simple but classic ceremony at a beautiful, rustic, and romantic bed-and-breakfast in Stowe, Vt. We reserved the entire place for the weekend, and our friends and family came from as far away as California. During the ceremony, Tint and I wore morning suits, as did his best man. My "best man" was my good friend Katy, who wore a very elegant cocktail dress. The ceremony was officiated by a rabbi froth Boston, whom we found on the Internet. Tim's brother sang and played the guitar, and our mothers lit a unity candle The lighting of a "unity candle" is a relatively recent addition to the traditional wedding ceremony. It is sometimes performed to symbolize the joining together of the two families, and their love for the bride and the groom, into one united family that loves the new husband and wife. . After the ceremony we had a terrific catered dinner, and yes, there were two grooms on the cake top! Kevin S. Beatson, 41, and Bob Floros, 39 On the morning of June 11, 2003, my partner and I were not expecting the newspaper headline that greeted us. The Ontario court of appeal The Court of Appeal for Ontario (frequently referred to as Ontario Court of Appeal) is headquartered in downtown Toronto, in historic Osgoode Hall. The Court is composed of 22 judges who hear over 1 500 appeals each year, on issues of private law, constitutional had ordered the province to immediately commence issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. I looked tip from the paper at Bob and asked, "So, will you marry me?" "Absolutely," he said. We drove straight to downtown Toronto Downtown Toronto is the heart of the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is approximately bounded by Bloor Street (including areas slightly north of Bloor around Yonge Street) to the north, Lake Ontario to the south, Bayview Avenue - Don Valley Parkway to the east, and Bathurst . We had decided to marry at City Hall as soon as we could-we were worried that the window of opportunity might close. But the wedding chambers were not available for a week, so we booked our ceremony for June 19. Although the actual ceremony was short, sweet, and to the point, it was emotional, exciting, and fulfilling. I was "also able to surprise Bob with a stunning new diamond ring. Years together 5 Larry Hoch, 61, and David Twombley, 62 Residence: Monroe, N.Y., and Oscela, Iowa United in Vermont David and I met each other in an Internet chat room. Neither or us was really looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. romance (we thought) and we both were learning to find our way as newly out men in our late 50s. Right front the beginning we both knew this was something special and different from other Internet friendships. After three months of e-mailing and phone calls, I hopped on a plane from New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of to Des Moines Des Moines, city, United States Des Moines (dĭ moin`), city (1990 pop. 193,187), state capital and seat of Polk co., S central Iowa, at the junction of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers; inc. to meet him. When our eyes met, we knew it was for real. Our second time together, this time in Florida, it was David's 60th birthday, and I proposed. He readily accepted. Later that day we went shopping for rings, and on Easter Sunday at dawn we exchanged vows and rings privately on a beach on the Atlantic coast. Nine months to the day later, we traveled to Vermont to have a civil union in Bennington. We haven't moved in together yet. We have a way to go, but our love is strong and our commitment secure. Years together 3 Mel Rutherford, 34, and Melanie Rutherford Parish, 35 Residence: Hamilton, Canada Married in Canada The day after the Ontario court ruled in favor of gay marriage, we started to plan our wedding. Our parents and extended families came from the United States to attend the ceremony. In total, we had 137 guests. We were married on our front porch. During the ceremony, 36 children came down the stairs Adv. 1. down the stairs - on a floor below; "the tenants live downstairs" downstairs, on a lower floor, below (shortest to tallest) of our home and gave Mel a flower. This bunch of flowers became her bridal bouquet, and it was gorgeous. Our vows were very traditional, and we meant every word. We are glad that we waited until it was legal for us to be married. Years together 4 Tamara Fraser, 35, and Jacqueline Schimmel Schimmel is a German surname and may refer to:
Residence: Chicago Married in Canada I first learned of the Ontario decision to legalize le·gal·ize tr.v. le·gal·ized, le·gal·iz·ing, le·gal·iz·es To make legal or lawful; authorize or sanction by law. le same-sex marriage Noun 1. same-sex marriage - two people of the same sex who live together as a family; "the legal status of same-sex marriages has been hotly debated" couple, twosome, duet, duo - a pair who associate with one another; "the engaged couple"; "an inseparable on The Advocate's Web site. I immediately proposed to Jackie, and she accepted. We decided to marry in Toronto over the Fourth of July Fourth of July, Independence Day, or July Fourth, U.S. holiday, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Celebration of it began during the American Revolution. weekend. We asked our sisters to come and stand up for us, and Jackie's parents decided to come too. During the ceremony, we both wore orange--a favorite color. It was beautiful. The high point was our vows--our families cried and laughed and supported us wholeheartedly whole·heart·ed adj. Marked by unconditional commitment, unstinting devotion, or unreserved enthusiasm: wholehearted approval. whole . Afterward there was hugging, then photos, then a lovely dinner. We were married four days after the fourth anniversary of our meeting each other. Years together 2 Tim McCanless, 43, and Roy McCanless, 27 Residence: Eureka, III. United in Vermont Alter the initial dating ritual, we moved in together and started talking about marriage. We decided to get a Vermont civil union, and it wasn't long before we had selected a minister and started to plan our trip. When we arrived in Vermont, we found the perfect spot at St. Albans Bay. There they were, the Adirondacks on one side and the Green Mountains Green Mountains, range of the Appalachian Mts., extending 250 mi (402 km) from north to south and extending from S Que., Canada to Vt. Mt. Mansfield, 4,393 ft (1,339 m) high, in Vermont, is the tallest peak. on the other, with beautiful Lake Champlain in between. During the ceremony, it was like we were enclosed in a bubble, unaware of the sounds around us. The sun was setting over the picturesque mountains as we heard the reverend say, "On this day you have declared that you will live together in marriage, and on this day, I declare you wed." Years together 1 1/2 Mark Andersen Mark Andersen is a punk rock activist and author who lives in Washington D.C.. He was born and raised in rural Montana, and moved to Washington D.C. in 1984 to attend graduate school at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). , 56, and Lynn Rowley Andersen, 36 Residence: New Berlin, N.Y. Married in Canada When we met we both knew almost immediately that we wanted a long-term, committed relationship A committed relationship is an interpersonal relationship based upon a mutually agreed upon commitment to one another involving exclusivity, honesty, or some other agreed upon behavior. . After Canada's landmark decision A landmark decision is the outcome of a legal case (often thus referred to as a landmark case) that establishes a precedent that either substantially changes the interpretation of the law or that simply establishes new case law on a particular issue. to allow gay marriage, we decided to go to Niagara Fails on the day of our first anniversary and make our marriage legal. We called the Niagara Falls city clerk's office and got a recommendation for a minister and a bed-and-breakfast in the city. We were married ha the beautiful gardens of that B&B and had the honor of becoming the first male couple married in the city of Niagara Falls. The ceremony was wonderful and peaceful. We now feel that we finally have the official blessing that we so richly deserve as a loving and committed couple. Years together 4 1/2 Gary Wilkerson, 41 and Kent Hamson, 25 Residence: Memphis, Tenn. Partnered in Tennessee In 1997, while I was a member of the Mormon Church The Mormon Church is a religious body founded in 1830 in Fayette, New York, by Joseph Smith. It is also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or LDS Church. There are 7.7 million Mormons worldwide. here in Memphis, Kent was sent from Salt Lake City on his Mormon mission. Our attraction was undeniable, and try as he did, Kent could not repress re·press v. 1. To hold back by an act of volition. 2. To exclude something from the conscious mind. what he was feeling. He was a Mormon, he was gay, he was in love, and so was I. Just before his mission ended, and with the assistance of his missionary companion, Kent and I held a private commitment ceremony in Memphis. Just a few of our friends were there as we exchanged our vows. Later, after living together, we decided to go to the 2000 march on Washington and be a part of the mass wedding at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Lincoln Memorial, monument, 107 acres (45 hectares), in Potomac Park, Washington, D.C.; built 1914–17. The building, designed by Henry Bacon and styled after a Greek temple, has 36 Doric columns representing the states of the Union at the time of Lincoln's . Years together 3 Gilberto Martinez, 30, and Max Mitchell, 36 Residence: Jaffrey Center, N.H. United in Vermont A friend told me she wanted to introduce me to her boss, who bad just moved to town and seemed gay. She set us up on a blind date and we clicked instantly. Three years, two dogs, and one cat later, we decided to get roamed. We went to Vermont with a minister friend and her husband. The four of us had a great ceremony. We have started saving for the big bash, which we'll have later this year to celebrate our four years together. We also hope to go to Montreal as soon as we can and get married there too. Years together 12 Mykle Flatley, 35, and Doug Van Eschen, 51 Residence: Chandler, Ariz. Married in Canada We decided to go with two other couples, who are friends of ours in Arizona, to get married in Canada. Our wedding was held on a beautiful Vancouver summer morning. We held three separate ceremonies at a spot called Ferguson Point. We were first, and we used the traditional vows provided by a Canadian marriage commissioner we hired. I had been cool, calm, and collected during the time leading up to the ceremony. But as the commissioner held the service, a flood of emotion came over me, it was with tears in my eyes In My Eyes was a Boston straight edge band that spearheaded the 1997 youth crew revival along with Ten Yard Fight, Bane, The Trust, Fastbreak and Floorpunch. The band and its members were a part of the hot bed that was the Boston music scene in the late 90's and early 2000's. that I said "I do." For Doug, the time leading up to the ceremony was the emotional part. But his voice cracked and there were tears in his eyes when he too said "I do." After the service we all went out to a wonderful lunch at a restaurant in downtown Vancouver. Years together 6 C.J. Randall, 24, and Sami Lerner, 30 Residence: Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale (lô`dərdāl), residential, commercial, and resort city (1990 pop. 149,377), seat of Broward co., SE Fla., on the Atlantic coast; settled around a fort built (c.1837) in the Seminole War, inc. 1911. , Fla. Partnered in Massachusetts We were joined in a commitment ceremony in Provincetown, Mass. The service was held at St. Mary of the Harbor Episcopal Church, which is the denomination I was brought up in. A former Catholic priest--turned--Episcopalian married us in a traditional Episcopal service. An organist played hymns from my childhood, and my mother was obviously pleased. My sister was the bridesmaid, and Sami's sister was the maid of honor. We received a certificate as married people from the Episcopal Church (at least in Provincetown), and we registered with the town as domestic partners. Brent Scheuerman-Stallone, 51, and Steven Scheuerman-Stallone, 56 Residence: Kansas City, Kan. Years together: 12 Married in Canada, June 28, 2003 We went to Toronto to get married shortly after they started issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. When we were filling out the final paperwork at City Hall, we were overwhelmed with TV reporters. The wedding chapel was booked, but a minister said he would fit us in that evening. The next day we went to see the pride parade in Toronto. Brent had heard that there was going to be a group of gay newlyweds marching. We ended up joining them and getting in a limo with our torsos out the sunroof. When we rounded the first corner, the crowd started cheering at us and the group of newlyweds in front of the limo. All along the route, we heard cheers of "Congratulations, Steve! Congratulations, Brent!" We had been recognized from TV. It made the parade mute seem personal to us--like a wedding reception that could not be outdone out·do tr.v. out·did , out·done , out·do·ing, out·does To do more or better than in performance or action. See Synonyms at excel. . |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion