LGBT
Related: About this forumFirst civil union takes place in Delaware (And I have a family connection)
This is very exciting for me, because I am from Delaware, and also because Lisa Goodman (on the left in the picture below) is my sister's sister-in-law!
My two seven-year-old twin nieces were attendants in the ceremony. My parents and (of course) my sister and brother-in-law were also there.
First civil union takes place in Delaware
Two women became the first couple in Delaware joined in a same-sex civil union ceremony Sunday during a historic and emotional service at their Wilmington church.
Fellow Delaware attorneys, as well as judges, legislators, friends and family members witnessed the tearful exchange of vows between Lisa B. Goodman and Drewry N. Fennell at Trinity Episcopal Church on North Adams Street.
A friend of the couple, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, delivered the sermon. During the liturgy, Lt. Gov. Matthew Denn and Superior Court Judge Jan R. Jurden each read from the Bible. Both know the couple from their days at the law firm Young, Conaway, Stargatt & Taylor.
At 10 a.m. Sunday, Delaware's law adopting same-sex civil unions took effect. After years of debate and hours of testimony in Dover, the General Assembly adopted the measure in April 2011. Gov. Jack Markell signed the bill in May.
More: http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20120101/NEWS/120101002/First-civil-union-takes-place-Delaware
William769
(55,148 posts)May they have a long & happy life together.
HillWilliam
(3,310 posts)Thanks, Skinner. Send our best wishes for a wonderful life together.
K&R
Vanje
(9,766 posts)Much love to the beautiful couple
DURHAM D
(32,611 posts)bleever
(20,616 posts)EFerrari
(163,986 posts)It's so great to see people being respected at last.
mitchtv
(17,718 posts)And a "first"too, I bet you are happy.
mitch
Zenlitened
(9,488 posts)Congrats to all.
dsc
(52,166 posts)the attendance at that ceremony was a who's who of Delaware.
ellisonz
(27,711 posts)xchrom
(108,903 posts)just lovely.
Smilo
(1,944 posts)progressoid
(49,999 posts)eppur_se_muova
(36,299 posts)This is partly why those of us who are NOT GLBT support marriage equality -- it affects our family, friends, acquaintances, colleagues -- and, unlike the Scripture-fed wingnuts who don't draw a line between religious beliefs and social policies, we don't deal with it by rejecting them and their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The rest of the explanation is that discrimination is just plain wrong, but people who won't accept the first argument are even more opaque to the second.
krispos42
(49,445 posts)Send the happy couple congrats from me.
Fearless
(18,421 posts)ruggerson
(17,483 posts)please convey congratulations to the happy couple, Skinner.