The moment we were pronounced husband and husband.
Married under willows on the Mall in Washington, DC, on August 6, 2011. The grooms are Bob Brown (59) and Doug Smart (56).
I (Doug Smart) was so deep in the closet that I married a woman when I was 21 (in 1976) even though I knew I was gay. Why? I thought I could use willpower, a woman's love and prayer to make my gay feelings go away; all 3 approaches failed spectacularly. I was married to her for 32 years and fathered and raised 2 children with her. At age 53 (2008) I came out, divorced, and began my life as an openly gay man. A year later I met my soulmate and best friend ever, Bob Brown. We married on the anniversary of our first date. I'm currently living the BEST years of my life!
Corinne and Marieke get married!
Corinne never really thought marriage was all that important and I, the surviving partner from a previous civil partnership, thought the wedding day would feel just like the CP day. We were both wrong. The depth of the emotion of being able to say "We are married" and it not being just a political statement but a simple truth surprised us both. The feeling of being utterly normal and 'not special' actually made our day extremely special.
Sal and Selby - 7.19.14 - for Better
This is love, respect, protection and unbridled happiness. Sweetness with strength. Laughter. Everyone should be as lucky to find a 'same' and celebrate that discovery. Love happens. Equality happens.
A day of magic
Every now and then - on the train mostly - I catch a glimpse of my wedding ring and my heart just wants to jump out of my chest for joy. In my teens and twenties the fact that I could not and therefore would not ever marry was a huge part of my identity. Not that I thought I would never settle down with someone, but there was an underlying understanding that my relationship, my love would never have the same value, the same status as that of my heterosexual friends. Something like that inadvertently has an impact on how we view ourselves, on how we define ourselves both in relation to the reflection in the mirror and in relation to others. At best it made me feisty and stronger, at worst it gave validation to every word of homophobic abuse shouted at me out of car windows. So while saying 'my wife' instead of the gender neutral 'my partner' still feels unfamiliar and sometimes a bit risky, it is also a privilege and one I tend to honour. Braver people than I laid the foundation, fought for and made it possible that I can stand on a train and smile at the new and sparkling wedding ring on my finger, knowing what it symbolises and stands for. And who knows, maybe every time I beam up at someone, oozing love and joy at the mention of my wonderful wife somewhere an inner bigot shrinks a little.
Our Humanist Celebrant and Us
Our wedding was so personal that I remember that, despite the initial nerves of walking down the aisle (which is a loose term as it was a grass path outside), I just smiled and laughed at the humour infused throughout the beautiful ceremony.
Arkansas Marriage Equality
For a short week beginning May 9, 2014. Same sex marriage was legal in the state of Arkansas. Then a stay was put into place, and the marriages performed were not recognized. My husband and I were one of the 600 couples married that week. This video highlights just some of the couples as they were married.
Lauren and Eve wedding, Feb 2015, UK
I'm marrying the girl of my dreams, she's my best friend, and the love of my life.
Same Sex Marriage in Washington, DC
Same sex marriage was not legal in our home state in August 2011 so we traveled to Washington, DC, to be married outdoors, near the White House. Bob Brown is on the left and Doug Smart is on the right.
Margaret and Lauren
We married May 18, 2014, on the grounds of the US Capitol building in Washington, DC. Being legally married has given us as much a sense of relief and security as joy and love. ... And then we moved to the suburbs.
A surprise proposal video
My partner proposed to me in the most romantic way possible.. I had no idea what she had planned. It has now had over 10,000 views!
Wedding day in Canada 2006. Marriage legal in Illinois 2014
My wife and I were married in Canada in 2006. We are both very traditional in some ways and wanted to be married before starting a family. Eight years later our spiritual commitment was legally recognized in our state of Illinois. We celebrated with our son.
Lisa and Susan
Married joyfully in 2008, officially tied together by law, amazed and moved by the experience of exchanging our vows before friends and family, and heartened to feel that at last we are part of the broad tapestry of community.
David and Lee Neubecker June 21, 2015, River Forest, IL
Our children stood by our sides as we were married in our church, surrounded by friends and family.
