Seen here are Phyllis Siegel (left) and Connie Kopelov (right) of New York City, the first same-sex couple to get married at the Manhattan City Clerk's office.
Is that not just the sweetest thing you have seen in very a long time?
I cannot imagine ANYBODY telling these wonderful ladies that they could not express their love for each other by legally committing their lives to one another. It just seems cruel upon reflection doesn't it?
This has started my daughter talking about wanting to get married as well, which I am VERY excited about! I have actually given away a lot of brides, but I had given up hope that I would someday do the same for my daughter.
Just another reminder to NEVER give up hope.
You can see more wonderful pictures over at Gawker.
I saw this picture somewhere earlier today and got tears in my eyes. My sincere best wishes to both of them. What more can I say?
ReplyDeletePat Padrnos
Thank you! What a wonderful photo. There's more on HuffPo in various articles - it is wonderful to see these people SO HAPPY! We definitely need a break from the crazy today - bears, Norway, debt ceiling, Greek default... egad.
ReplyDeleteI saw this picture yesterday. Loved it!!! How can you deny these people? Just adorable!
ReplyDeleteCan I come to the wedding? Be sure to keep us informed concerning your daughter. Nice post after all the bad news out of D.C.
ReplyDeleteWhat strikes me most about what happened yesterday is that it was NOT what I would think the religious-righteous would have us believe about gay marriage: that the people that wanted to get married were poorly raised young people who were obviously misdirected and had poor judgment in most of their decisions.
ReplyDeleteI was really impacted by the ages of many of the people and the years of commitment.
Just beautiful. Wish California would catch up with New York.
ReplyDeleteAlso, we need a federal law because right now the New York newlyweds still don't have all the rights of straight couples. Filing a joint income tax return is one example of a right denied.
~Pogo
Gryph, seen this?
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/07/these_lit
tle_gi.php
If your heart is already warmed, this will get you to Happy Sigh territory.
This warms my heart so very much . . . .
ReplyDeleteI live in a state that has basically tried to keep gays from breathing, taken most of women's choice away and undermined public education. I love it when evolution actually takes place in our country!
And do you know what? Those folks getting married hasn't affected my heterosexual marriage one bit. I wonder what people were so worried about.
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that gay folks have some of the finest minds in the world. Cities that welcome the gay community tend to be the most prosperous.
ReplyDeleteI live in NY and am very proud of the legislators, especially the Republicans who went against their party, who did the right thing and passed this bill.
ReplyDeleteI saw an interview of these two lovely ladies on the news last night and they are just as sweet and excited as you might guess. I wish them, and all the other couples throughout the state who joined them in celebrating their love, many joyous years together.
laprofesora: They're so worried about two things, both from purely selfish motives:
ReplyDelete1) That their health insurance will go up because all these gay people will now be paying premiums for their HIV-positive spouses. (I am not making this up. A conservative relative told me this was her biggest objection to gay marriage.)
2) The dominionists believe in collective judgment. They already have their panties in a wad (sorry to be obscene) because they think God will judge the US for allowing abortion. They see gay marriage as another area in which tolerance will cause God to rain down wrath and punishment on the entire nation, themselves included. This is a very convenient way of making something that has nothing to do with them, their business.
I once heard a pastor preach about how loving homosexuals--cuz, you know, the Bible commands Christians to love others--meant letting them know that their behavior was an "abomination unto God." This was the pastor of a 1,500-member church, quite influential at that time, not some crackpot in the backwoods. Unfortunately.
(Later that pastor was forced to resign, allegedly over un-pastoral conduct that may have included embezzlement.)
But I'm doing my best to keep the liberal flame alive here in crazy-conservative Colorado Springs!
Hey Gryphen, Sorry OT -
ReplyDeletebut this was interesting, courtesy of commenter Caroleeena at Huffpost.
Unfortunately, I can only read English :(
Re. the Oslo terrorist:
He had just met with "missionaries" from the Tea Party. It's being reported in Oslo papers here: http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/partiene/fremskrittspartiet/article3621303.ece
I hope that my grandchildren - if I ever have some! - will regard marriage equality like my generation regards interracial marriage.
ReplyDelete"Huh. What was the big deal? Why did anybody care?"
And good news about your daughter, but does she have anyone in mind or has marriage-mania just hit her?
What a wonderful day for the newly married couples. What a wonderful day for our country!
ReplyDeleteI saw these two ladies on the news today. I am so thrilled for them.
ReplyDeleteThat, my friends, is love. Who are we to define or restrict it? Everyone should be free to marry and the rest of us should respect their choice. Just a lovely photo of the two ladies and may their lives be richer because of the wisdom of the State of New York.
ReplyDeleteThose vehemently against others getting married, are no doubt the same ones who INSIST that every woman take every baby to full term, no matter the circumstances.
ReplyDeleteAnd THEN, in the pseudo-chistian mindset, have NO intention of raising a finger, or paying one thin dime, to help RAISE the kid they demanded be produced.
Just how anyone can justify thinking this way, and sticking their nose that far up another person's butt, is a complete mystery to me.
This picture made me cry. WHY do we have to be so filled with hate for things/people we don't completely understand? Why can't we live and let live? I am so happy that the new law allows so many to finally become EQUAL.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photo... made me tear up. I hope one day all couples will enjoy equal rights.
ReplyDeleteTheir marriages doesn't bother me in the least. If anything I think I am envious especially of this couple you can tell they truly love one another and they belong together.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to find someone that loves you for you and no other reason. You can see in that picture there is no doubt in either one of those ladies. I am glad they are finally able to marry.
Maybe they can teach the rest of us a thing or to.
It looks like they've committed their lives together before this 'title' was made available for them.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Ladies, god bless. (He's my god too.)
When the alarm went off this morning I awoke in the arms of my husband. While this seems to be a very small thing, it is my most cherished moment of the day and has been for over 30 yrs.
ReplyDeleteI also thought this morning about all the new Newlyweds in NY that can now have that moment to cherish too!
Congrats to all!
Heartwarming.
ReplyDeleteWhen California briefly had a law allowing gay marriage, the first couple in San Francisco had been together more than 50 years! One of the partners died a few months later. To me, it is just criminal that we have held these people back from fully expressing their love for each other.
ReplyDeleteWhat I have loved so much about the pictures of the NY gay weddings is how normal everyone looks: just like folks...loving, ordinary folks...happy, loving, ordinary and extraordinary folks. The Salt of The Earth Americans we all envision when we think of, say, small town Americans. Who could possible wish to deny these neighbors and family members their happiness?
ReplyDeleteoh, right...
well, ok then...
Here is another wonderful story, from our friend, Andrew Sullivan:
http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2011/07/letting-the-light-in.html
As Van Jones has said, small acts of loving intention can have disproportionately wonderful outcomes. He travels the country speaking to professional groups. Remember him? he was the first of the Obama administration to get 'Becked'.
sigh...
Aurora
This couple was committed to each other longer than Newt Gingrich's three marriages all sum totaled. Take that DOMA!!
ReplyDeleteThey look so very happy. Good for them!
ReplyDeleteI love the photos and stories of the couples who have been together for ages and jump at the chance to get married when it's legal. It's heartwarming and I wish all the newlyweds the best!
ReplyDeleteA little bit ago I included a thought from Van Jones in a posting here. Well, maybe it is a coincidence, but we know about those, right?
ReplyDeleteThis was recently posted by him at the HuffPo, regarding civic action to be taken around the country at noon tomorrow:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/van-jones/tuesday-rallies-save-american-dream_b_908444.html
As we used to say in the 60's, it is time to vote with our feet!
Aurora
So proud to be a New Yorker!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is a beautiful, generous, loyal, thoughtful, intelligent and special young lady - anyone would be lucky to have her as their partner. Unfortunately for the young men in Richmond, they don't stand a chance of winning her heart; it's been claimed by an equally special woman.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of that asshole/wanker/dickmonster, Marcus Bachmann, calling them "barbarians," I want to slap his inflated, Barney Rubble-esque face!
There is nothing remotely barbaric about their relationship. And the fact that he and his wack-o fundy comrades would deny them their basic civil rights makes my blood boil!
I feel lucky as a parent that my girl has found someone who cherishes her and who she is nuts about. How could anyone have a problem with this?
I'm glad they were the first couple to wed.
ReplyDelete:)
I hate to rain on all the warm and fuzzies here but there is a movement afoot in New York to repeal this new law.While I don't think it will repeal anything there are people out there so miserable they can not stand to see any one else happy.I am a 62 year old straight male and I don't believe any one has the right to tell any one else who to love.It concerns only you and your signifigant other,Every one else can just fuck off.
ReplyDeleteIt's a bittersweet moment in history, one that I thought I'd never see in my lifetime.
ReplyDeleteHow can anyone deny the obvious respect, love, commintment, and strength of these beautiful people?
I wish people like Matthew Sheppard never had to die just for being the best "Matthew Sheppard" there could be, one who's true to himself and to others? My heart breaks for the potential that could have been. But my sprit soars knowing these people will no longer have to deny their right to the pursuit of happiness.
My take on tolearnce has always been that it's a very bigoted term, it implies there's something wrong with the person that normal people should just tolerate. I'm for the term "Acceptance" because it implies we're all equal.
Gryphen, I'm so happy for you and your daughter. One day, every state in the union will make this the law of the land. And that day can't come soon enough. You are one parent who "gets it", no matter how hard it was or how it came to be, your love for your daughter and your fervent hope to see her fulfilled and happy just as she is, is a sight for sore eyes, and an example to other families.
I think you'd make and amazing father in law and grandfather!
Maybe there's hope yet. This article says the evangelical community is finally coming to understand that sexual orientation is not a choice but instead is innate.
ReplyDeleteEvangelicals Losing Interest in ’Reparative Therapy?
http://www.edgedallas.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=122431