aka my wedding pictures!
The anti-gay groups don't like that NC is the only southern state without a marriage discrimination amendment to their constitution because they are worried someone could get married out of state, then come back home and sue to have their marriage recognized. Well as of Friday I am one more person for them to be afraid of because I got married in Boston Friday.
This was my first trip to Boston or MA for that matter, but I'll definitely go back. The city was beautiful, it was a great city for walking around, it couldn't be any gay friendlier, there were plenty of gay couples walking around holding hands, no one at city hall treated us any differently than straight couples, the manager at the hotel sent up chocolate covered strawberries & champaign when they heard it was our wedding night, the justice of the peace made a point of saying that marriage is only about love and that the ceremony she was going to perform would be the same she would give to any other couple. It was great & I can't wait to go back!
Day 1 – We arrived, checked in at the Omni Parker House hotel, explored the city a little, and stopped by Fanueil Hall for shopping & a bite to eat.
On Day 2 we applied for the marriage license at city hall & we went on part of the freedom trail visiting places like Paul Reverse’s House, and the Old North Church, and of course we dined in little Italy while we were in the North End. And then went off to check out Harvard & do some museum touring.
Day 3 - We went through the Boston Common for the first of many times, saw the State House (we had already seen the Court House), saw the graves of Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, & John Hancock, visited the Boston Public Library, and went out to the Prudential shopping center/Prudential Tower Observatory where we could see from the Harbor in one direction and well past Fenway Park in the other. We also checked out South End, & the Calamus Book Store... you don’t see as many establishments back here in NC with rainbow flags hanging by the door. We finished the night with a meal in China town.
Here I am at the Boston Public Library
Day 4 brought us to hear the Boston Symphony, to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, & the Old State House, followed by a wedding shower at a comedy club with our family who had come up to visit.
(I'm on the right)
Day 5 – The big day. We also checked out the Cheers bar, & did some other site seeing & fancy meals.
Here we are with the parents. We had about 10 family members/guests total at ceremony at city hall. We will be having a wedding reception back in our home state of NC later this month, in Chapel Hill with somewhere between 50 to 100 people, which is where we will have our wedding cake & big party for all those who couldn't afford an out of state trip flight & hotel to come to our wedding.
Here we have the marriage license. (I'm on the left, Ted is on the right)
Day 6 – We saw the site of the Boston Massacre & the Boston Tea party which happened near the bridge in this picture.
I'll be putting up more pics here later:
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2275513&id=11813503
Issues:
Comments
Mazel Tov
Jake, We've never met but I have totally enjoyed reading your marriage story and seeing your pictures. Thanks for sharing with us. May you and Ted have a wonderful life together.Linda Convissor
Congratulations
You make a very lovely couple. May you have many wonderful, loving years together. Thanks for sharing your happiness. Terri
Bon Voyage
Jake and Ted, this long-awaited event marks the beginning of a whole new journey. Best wishes to the happy couple! - c.
Feel Free
to comment or recommend at my cross post over on the kos... the more that see how much of a "threat" this kind of marriage is, the less of a threat it will behttp://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/3/8/142436/7421/759/706058 And thanks for all the wel & warml wishes!! =)
Even In the Heartland Things Are Looking Up
Iowa High Court Legalizes Gay Marriage In State By AMY LORENTZEN Associated Press WriterDES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa's Supreme Court
legalized gay marriage Friday in a unanimous and emphatic decision that
makes Iowa the third state - and the first in the nation's heartland -
to allow same-sex couples to wed. http://www.wral.com/news/national_world/national/story/4885162/
Iowa & Vermont!
Yeah, I saw that, I was excited for Iowa. And Vermont just passed marriage equality through the legislator which the republian gov threatened to veto, we'll see if he actually does (it always amuses me when Republicans say that marriage equality should come from the legislature instead of the judicial branch & then they veto it when it does like with Arnold & Douglass). Maybe this ruling will help push the VT Gov not to veto, or help the legislators override the veto if he does.For my money I'm okay with civil rights/equality coming from any branch
of government, and I have no problem with judges saying majorities
don't always get to make decisions on minority rights.
It Was A Squeaker But...
Well, the vote in the Vermont House was a squeaker (100-49) but as the saying goes, "close only counts in hand grenades and horsehoes". Vermont Legalizes Gay Marriage With Veto Overidehttp://www.wral.com/news/national_world/national/story/4905535/ So rack another victory up for gay marriage with the 4th state to legalize it and the first to do so legislatively.
Not only that, but DC too
is making progress:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/07/AR2009040702200.html?hpid=topnews "D.C. Council Votes to Recognize Other States' Gay MarriagesThe D.C. Council voted today to recognize same-sex marriages performed in
other states, on the same day that Vermont became the fourth state to
legalize same-sex unions. Domestic partnerships are already
legal in the nation's capital. But yesterday's vote, billed as an
important milestone in gay rights, explicitly recognizes relocated gay
married couples as married."
4/15/09
As someone who has to check single even though I'm married, I think I'll either be stopping by a starbucks, or a post office while wearing a button or t-shirt in support of equality. Same Sex Kiss Day:http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=66738984576http://www.samesexkiss.orgMeet at ANY Starbucks NATIONWIDE on Tax Day – April 15. HRC is organizing gatherings at Post Office around the US on Tax day“So we're taking our message to Post Offices nationwide, on the day when the TV crews will be there shooting footage for their Tax Day segments – and we need you to help!”http://www.taxday2009.com/
Congrats
Congratulations! Some great shots of my favorite, first hometown (I left right after the Tea Party) - a couple were taken quite close to one brother's home (with his s.o.). Perfect place for a 1st anniversary trip, and 2nd and 5th and 10th and.....But much as I love Boston, I'm sorry you had to travel so far to get married.
Congratulations Jake and Ted
Thank you for sharing your wonderful photos. I particularly enjoy seeing your happy faces among so many of our country's most revered (no pun intended) monuments to democracy. Here's to the day when the pursuit of happiness is available to us all no matter what state we live in. {toast} {*clink}
Mazal tov!
Thanks for sharing your pics. Keep up with the great posts Jake!
Congratulations, best of luck, and...
Most of all, thanks for sharing your story with all of us! The best weapon against hate is to share love instead. While it's always difficult to decide to make a part of your private life public, it's so very important. I wish you and Ted a happy lifetime together!
Congratulations
Jake,Congratulations to you and Ted. May you have many happy years together. Thanks for sharing the pics of your wedding trip. Sounds like it was truly a joyous occasion.
Super Congratulations.
Super Congratulations. Love the pictures. Enjoy--marriage is a wonderful thing--I liked it so much, I did it twice. :)
Send the e-mail, Save the World
Well not really the world, but help put NC on the right track on lgbt issues!http://eqfed.org/campaign/svpa_1/
4 full days of gay marriage
Four full days of your gay marriage and I feel no ill effects on my straight one. Hmmmmmmm
Thanks for the Post
What a wonderful post. I admire and respect your sense of responsibility to the cause of battling prejudice and discrimination by sharing your very personal joy on this forum. My heartfelt congratulations to both of you!
Oppose Marriage Equality Constitutional Ban in NC!
Join this group. Let people know you
oppose tampering with our state's constitution when marriage equality
is 1) Already banned in this state & 2) this bill will negatively
affect unmarried heterosexual couples as well as gay couples. We are
the only southern state without a constitutional marriage equality ban,
I'm proud of that, lets keep it that way!
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=59688064076
Congratulations!
Congratulations to you! And I hope that marriage equality becomes the norm everywhere. By the way, Dolly Parton is supposed to have said something to the effect that gay people ought be able to get married: why should us straight people have to be the only ones to suffer? James Coley
Wedding Reception Pics
Setting Up Wedding Cake Guest Book & Take One Table (we had wrist bands with our names & wedding dates. We also had pictures on the tables from our Boston trip to share with those at our Chapel Hill reception who couldn't make it up to MA for the wedding) Friends & Family The Dance And there are many many many more that I haven't even seen yet. I have more family members with digital cameras who are going to share, I had 2 photographers at the event and we are still waiting for their pictures, and we put disposable pictures on the tables for everyone to take pictures with and they've yet to be developed, so in all likelihood I will be sharing more =p
Bullying Bill online Petition
I didn't want to start a new topic over this since I didn't have a lot to say about it. I think it is a good cause, so if anyone wants to sign, here is the link:http://eqfed.org/campaign/SafeSchoolsPetition/igsdx3brf7ktdiet
Click to E-mail about NC Bullying Bill!
It looks
like the NC Senate is taking after the US Congress & taking up an
LGBT issue (although its truly broader than just lgbt, it should be of
interest to anyone interested in the quality of our schools).For NC to pass any lgbt friendly legislation is a huge step, so please click the link to send an e-mail in support of the School Violence Prevention Act.http://eqfed.org/campaign/svpa_2/igsdx3bry7kemtde-------------Call Congressman Price's OfficeAnd have the phone answerer take down your name and that you are calling in support of the Matthew Sheppard Act.(202) 225-1784 It'll take less than a minute, and it is a cause worth spending 1 minute of your day on! They are voting on it tomorrow, so call today.
Live free or die!
http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2009/06/03/new-hampshire-governor-signs-same-sex-marriage-into-law/
That means Bishop Gene Robinson
can get married in his home state. One other thing I wanted to share:http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Presidential-Proclamation-LGB...<blockquuote>THE WHITE HOUSEOffice of the Press Secretary___________________________________________________________For Immediate Release June 1, 2009LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009- - - - - - -BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAA PROCLAMATIONForty years ago, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City resisted police harassment that had become all too common for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Out of this resistance, the LGBT rights movement in America was born. During LGBT Pride Month, we commemorate the events of June 1969 and commit to achieving equal justice under law for LGBT Americans.LGBT Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society. There are many well-respected LGBT leaders in all professional fields, including the arts and business communities. LGBT Americans also mobilized the Nation to respond to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic and have played a vital role in broadening this country's response to the HIV pandemic.Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly today than ever before. I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration. These individuals embody the best qualities we seek in public servants, and across my Administration -- in both the White House and the Federal agencies -- openly LGBT employees are doing their jobs with distinction and professionalism.The LGBT rights movement has achieved great progress, but there is more work to be done. LGBT youth should feel safe to learn without the fear of harassment, and LGBT families and seniors should be allowed to live their lives with dignity and respect.My Administration has partnered with the LGBT community to advance a wide range of initiatives. At the international level, I have joined efforts at the United Nations to decriminalize homosexuality around the world. Here at home, I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans. These measures include enhancing hate crimes laws, supporting civil unions and Federal rights for LGBT couples, outlawing discrimination in the workplace, ensuring adoption rights, and ,<strong>ending the existing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy</strong> in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security. We must also commit ourselves to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic by both reducing the number of HIV infections and providing care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS across the United States.These issues affect not only the LGBT community, but also our entire Nation. As long as the promise of equality for all remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected. If we can work together to advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded, every American will benefit. During LGBT Pride Month, <strong>I call upon the LGBT community, the Congress</strong>, and the American people to work together to promote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.<strong>NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.</strong>IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.BARACK OBAMA</blockquote>The language was VERY carefully chosen to not wade into the marriage equality issue, but it's nice that his administration is proactively mentioning ending DADT, & calling on congress to act rather than "waiting on congress to act." I see it as a a shift in the right direction.