I know many of you straight Kossacks fight hard on our behalf and give us your full-throated support. For that I can't thank you all enough. To show my gratitude for you standing with us, I thought I would share the happiest day of my life with you. My wedding day. If you've never been to a same sex wedding, get your children out of the room because it was a pretty graphic affair
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Kidding. There's absolutely nothing graphic forthcoming. Just a very simple wedding between two men who love each other deeply.
We married August 23rd, 2008, just a couple of months before hatred put an end to these celebrations of happy loving Californians making a life commitment to one another. How people can be so cruel is beyond my capacity to understand. That's all I'll say about that. Instead I'm going to write about the happiness of that memorable day.
We married on the campus of the college I work for. It is in a beautiful location on the San Francisco Bay. We didn't do anything elaborate. Just simple seating for about 50 people, an arbor with beautiful sprays of Titanic pink roses, white spider mums and Bells of Ireland with two spiral evergreens on other side. Before I begin sharing pictures let me just say that my one regret is that we decided not to hire a professional photographer. Always hire a photographer.
Guest beginning to arrive
The ceremony began with a cellist playing Bach's prelude from the first cello suite.
Steven and Brian making it honest
Our dear friend Dave officiated the ceremony. He gave a heartwarming welcome to everyone and spoke about love being a universal need and marriage being a universal celebration that should belong to everyone.
Brian's sister then read Shakespeare's Sonnet 116. On a side note, Brian's entire family came from Texas to celebrate with us. It was then I knew how much of a member of the family I had become.
At this point we asked our cellist to choose one of her own compositions. Cello has long been one of my favorite instruments and this woman made hers sing.
After she finished playing our best friend read Anne Sexton's The Kiss.
Dave then spoke about the symbol of the ring. It was deeply thoughtful and moving. I wish I had a transcription for you to read. Trust me, this man has the gift of words and he had people choking up.
Our rings were brought in on the collars our children, Maggie and Chester and we exchanged our vows.
With this ring he does me wed
And with that, we were legally married, a dream we never dared dream come true.
The lawn sat in front of our Student Center which is where we held the reception. It is just a blur to me now. Partly because of the amazing wine and champagne, but mostly because of the dizzying emotion. I don't know when I've ever felt that completely happy in my life. I've always enjoyed myself at weddings but this one was mine. Pinch me.
At the beginning of the diary I wrote a thank you to the straight supporters of our right to marry. I'm closing with a word to my gay brothers and sisters who want to marry and can't. Hang in there. We will continue to fight for and win the right for everyone to have their happy day. It's our human right.
Now finally on to Top Comments, Mojo and Photos!
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March 24, 2012
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