Anniversary of 1st NY marriages bittersweet for binational couple Gemma and Jessica
Posted on Jul 25, 2012 at 03:00 pm
Jessica and Gemma's happiness has been interrupted by the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevents legally married same-sex couples from obtaining permanent U.S. residency for a spouse from another country. Because Gemma is from the United Kingdom, the harms of DOMA immediately hit the couple hard. "Every day we were together felt like it was interrupted by a ticking time bomb. Every day, there was that fear of losing each other. It took a huge emotional toll on us and made everything ten times harder," Jessica said.
Eddie and Jeff ‘complete the journey’ with wedding in New York
Posted on Jul 25, 2012 at 02:30 pm
"I remember when I was young and living in southern Indiana, and I knew nothing about gay life or relationships," says Eddie, who married his partner of 24 years, Jeff, in March. "The one thing I had always heard was that gay people are incapable of commitment and incapable of being with one person. If I had made a list of the things I wanted to accomplish in my life, growing old with the person I loved was my No. 1 thing. And I've had that with Jeff."
A mayoral proposal, 2 ecstatic daughters, and 17 days to make it happen
Posted on Jul 25, 2012 at 09:15 am
Last year, Mayor Michael Bloomberg officiated over the wedding ceremony of John Feinblatt and Jonathan Mintz, city employees who had been together for 14 years. With three flavors of mouth-watering cupcakes, the historic Gracie Mansion as a backdrop, and their two young children in tow, John and Jonathan were ready to celebrate New York's passage of the freedom to marry by finally tying the knot.
New York celebrates marriage: Mary Jo and Jo-Ann, one year later
Posted on Jul 24, 2012 at 01:15 pm
For New Yorkers Mary Jo Kennedy and Jo-Ann Shain, last year's marriage victory was both personal and political. As plaintiffs in the Lambda Legal case that spurred the movement for marriage in New York, they were directly involved in each step of the win, and today remain strong advocates for the importance of the freedom to marry to all loving and committed couples.
Before and after ‘I Do,’ political meets personal for Council Speaker
Posted on Jul 24, 2012 at 10:30 am
As speaker of the New York City Council, Christine C. Quinn is used to being in the spotlight in high-profile settings. But this spring, the social event of the year had her downright nervous. And rightfully so: After more than a decade as a couple, she and her partner Kim M. Catullo, a products liability lawyer, married May 19 among family and friends, colleagues, and a who's who of the political elite.
NY couple Christopher and Carl commemorate 10 years by tying the knot
Posted on Jul 23, 2012 at 02:30 pm
Chris and Carl's wedding on May 27, 2012 at the Broad Street Ballroom in lower Manhattan was truly a family-focused celebration. Christopher's brother got ordained online and officiated the ceremony, while Christopher's father, who works as a minister, gave a blessing for the occasion. The couple's two-year-old daughter Harper served as the flower girl, and their dogs walked down the aisle with the ring bearers - who were Harper's cousins.
New York couple Dan and Chip celebrate 1 year of marriage, 20 years of love
Posted on Jul 23, 2012 at 11:30 am
Tuesday, July 24, 2012 marks the first anniversary of legal marriages between same-sex couples in New York. To celebrate, Freedom to Marry is sharing the stories of same-sex couples who tied the knot this year. Today, we're sharing the story of Daniel Watts and Chip Bailey, who married on July 27, 2011.
Personal essay from gay Jewish rabbi shows importance of family acceptance
Posted on Jul 20, 2012 at 02:30 pm
A beautiful new essay from a lesbian Jewish rabbi in Tablet chronicles her wedding to another female rabbi and outlines how her grandmother grew to accept her. The essay provides a lens into how traditional Jewish communities can grow to not only accept - but to celebrate - their gay and lesbian family members.
SLIDESHOW: Top pop culture freedom to marry moments in June
Posted on Jun 29, 2012 at 09:00 am
It's already been a huge summer for the freedom to marry, with President Obama's comments about marriage for same-sex couples and movement in states facing ballot initiatives. But in the entertainment and pop culture world, the freedom to marry has also been gaining significant visibility. Here, we look at nine marriage moments and applaud their positive media representation.
This soldier and his new husband deserve to have their marriage respected
Posted on Jun 15, 2012 at 04:00 pm
Although Paul and David's marriage is legal in Iowa and other states that recognize marriages between same-sex couples, the fact that Paul is a service member complicates the protections that the government affords to their relationship. The so-called Defense of Marriage Act forces the military to treat their relationship like a second-class marriage.