Equality Pennsylvania wants to, once again, congratulate our colleagues in New York State for their legislative victory in favor of same-sex marriage last month. After a 30 day waiting period, marriage licenses were first issued Sunday. In New York City alone, 1,143 couples got their licenses or were wed at marriage bureaus. Across the state, municipalities welcomed this turning point in the LGBT rights movement with mayors, city council leaders, and judges helping officiate or attending ceremonies.
While certainly a political victory, the ceremonies which took place yesterday also lent a human face to the struggle for LGBT rights, justice, and equality. Children finally saw their parents’ love and their families’ strength legitimatized by their government; parents were able to see their children marry the partners to whom they had remained loyal for decades, and LGBT youth were offered a vision of the future filled with hope and recognition.
Perhaps most heart-warming were the ceremonies recognizing the love and commitment of elderly couples who vowed to cherish each other so long ago. The New York Times highlighted two particular instances of this pure, human joy: “We feel a little more human today, “ [said] Ray Durand … after marrying his partner, Dale Shields, 79, whom he met 42 years ago by a jukebox in a West Village bar.” In fact, the first couple wed by the Manhattan clerk consisted of seventy-six year old Phyllis Sigel and eighty-four year old Connie Kopelov, partners for 23 years. “As Mr. McSweeney declared to the couple, “I now pronounce you married,” Ms. Siegel held Ms. Kopelov's head and kissed her on the left cheek.”
As we continue to work diligently against Representative Metcalfe’s proposed marriage amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution which would not only ban same-sex marriage indefinitely but also nullify existing partnerships, we are rejuvenated by the bliss emanating from New York. We thank our supporters for helping carry us this far and urge all Pennsylvanians to stand up for the right of all human beings to love freely and be recognized in the eyes of the law.
The NYTimes referenced in this post
A slideshow of NY Marriage Ceremonies and recently married couples
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