WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT
Svrchek/Brick
Sarah Elizabeth Svrchek and Catherine Louise Brick ( pictured ) were married June 21 at the Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ, 615 W. Wellington, surrounded by 160 of their family and friends for a celebration of their love and commitment to each other. They were whisked to their lunch reception in a 1974 Caprice convertible.
WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT
Cozette/Lada
Gary Louis Cozette and Joseph Michael Lada ( pictured ) were united in a civil marriage ceremony at San Francisco's City Hall Aug. 28.
Cozette is a longtime political activist in Chicago, and Lada is a nurse at Illinois Masonic Hospital.
Longtime friends William Wong, James Burke and Greg Hillhouse attended and served as legal witnesses.
Cozette and Lada will also have a reception in Chicago.
Hallmark to sell
gay-marriage cards
The biggest greeting card company in the U.S. is jumping on the gay marriage bandwagon now that California joined Massachusetts in legalizing gay marriage. Hallmark announced that it added a line of same-sex wedding cards, according to GayWired.com . The message inside one of the cards reads, 'Two hearts. One promise.' The same-sex marriage cards come in four different designs, and contain neutral language. The company, which created 'coming out' cards in 2007, said that it released the same-sex marriage cards because of consumer demand for them.
In a related development, the LGBT Web site PrideDEPOT.com is asking the gay community and allies in Idaho and across the country to purchase Hallmark sympathy cards and mail them to Bryan Fischer, the executive director of Idaho Values Alliance, a Boise, Idaho-based organization PrideDEPOT.com has called 'anti-gay' in a press release. According to Jody May-Chang, Fischer boasted about Philip Johnson, the owner of Jordan's Hallmark, is not selling same-sex cards. However, May-Chang talked with Johnson, who said that his decision had more to do with business than with the values of Fischer's organization.
Nunziato new
Vital Bridges
board chair
Ron Nunziato ( pictured ) became the chairman of the board of the local HIV/AIDS agency Vital Bridges July 1, according to an organizational press release.
Vital Bridges is one of Chicago's largest organizations dedicated to serving people living with HIV and AIDS. Nunziato has been involved with the organization for nearly a decade, and previously served as vice-chairman of the board. 'I have always volunteered for organizations that make a difference in the lives of the people they serve. They inspire me to want to give and do more. Vital Bridges has always strived to meet the needs of our clients. I'm honored to lead this organization and do my part, as many committed staff and volunteers do on a daily basis,' stated Nunziato.
Nunziato is the regional director for operations for SIR Management, a healthcare consulting company.
He has a history of involvement and support for organizations fighting HIV/AIDS. In the late 1980s, he served on the board of Howard Brown Health Center and was its president from 1991 to 1993. He has also served on the Boards of the Mental Health Association of Evanston and Bethel New Life.
Nunziato is joined by new executive committee members Jamal Edwards, vice chairman; Don Laackman, treasurer; David Bornstein, secretary; and Khoa Ho, member at large.
