Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

Same-sex weddings start in New York
by Chuck Colbert
2011-07-27

This article shared 5232 times since Wed Jul 27, 2011
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


The marriage-equality movement enjoyed a burst of new energy July 24, as jubilant same-sex couples across New York state began marrying under a new law that took effect at midnight.

"Today we celebrate our families, our equality, and how far we have come as a community," said Kevin Cathcart, executive director of Lambda Legal, a national advocacy organization, in a statement.

New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, who is openly gay, told NBC Nightly News, "Today those families were told they matter and that the state of New York cares about them as much as anyone else."

From Niagara Falls to Albany to New York City hundreds of gay and lesbians applied for marriage licenses.

The first couple to marry under the new law was Kitty Lambert, 54, and Cheryle Rudd, 53, of Buffalo, who exchange vows in a religious ceremony at Niagara Falls—shortly after midnight.

In New York City alone, 823 couples were granted marriage licenses with many of those couples expected to marry right away. City clerks' offices opened in all five boroughs as judges were on hand to officiate and to waiver the state's mandatory 24-hour waiting period between licensure and wedding ceremony. By day's end, city officials said 659 couples had picked up their licenses.

The first couple to marry legally in the city was Phyllis Siegel, 76, and Connie Kopelov, 84. The Chelsea couple has been together for 23 years.

Even the mayor got into the act Sunday night. On the lawn of Gracie Mansion, his official residence, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg officiated the wedding of his chief policy adviser, John Feinblatt, 60, and Jonathan Mintz, 47, the city's commissioner for consumer affairs.

Notwithstanding the initial rush of same-sex marriages, other couples are waiting for the just the right time. One couple is Philip Trzynka, 52, and Brett Henry, 52, of New York City.

Trzynka hails from Fort Wayne, Ind., and is an ordained minister of word and sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He currently serves as pastor of Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran.

Henry grew up outside of Chicago in the suburb of Glen Ellyn and works in sales for Federal Express.

The couple met in September 2000 at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center in New York City. In 2006, they celebrated two religious commitment ceremonies, one in Glen Ellyn, the other in their Manhattan home parish on Oct. 7, 2006.

At the time, "We decided it was important to us that our family and friends were able to publicly hear about our commitment to each other and were able to show their support for our relationship," Rev. Trzynka said.

"We wanted to try to accommodate all of our friends and family who wanted to show their support. I think, like most couples, we wanted our families and our church to give us a sign of support and acceptance of who we are and the family we were creating," he added.

In 2008, the couple adopted a then-8-year-old son.

"Our reason for wanting a civil ceremony in New York is the same as it was when we had our religious ceremonies. We want to give our family the opportunity to receive a sign of support and acceptance from the state in which we live and have grown to love," Trzynka explained.

"Of course, we also desire the protections and safeguards that legal recognition of the state can give our family," he said, adding, now with New York's support, "We feel home."

The couple has tentative plans to celebrate civil marriage this coming Oct. 7—five years to the date of their religious commitment ceremony.

New York is the third state to legalize gay marriage by legislative action. The other two are New Hampshire and Vermont.

On June 15, New York's Democratic-held Assembly voted 80—63 in favor of the gay marriage bill. On June 24, the Republican-led Senate passed it by a vote of 33—29. Immediately, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who championed the bill, signed the measure into law, which required a 30-day waiting period before taking effect.

The legislative victory gave new life to same-sex marriage advocates after attempts to enact gay marriage fizzled in Maryland and Rhode Island.

The win in New York is indeed a big prize. The state, the nation's third most populous, joins five other states—Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont—and the District of Columbia in allowing gays to wed.

Altogether, New York's population of 19 million is greater than the combined total of those five plus the nation's capital. With New York now among the marriage-equality fold, the number of Americans living same-sex marriage states more than doubles—from 16 million to 35 million people.

New York's Marriage Equality Act is unique insofar as it has the most extensive religious exemptions of any gay-marriage law so far enacted. For example, the law makes explicit that no member of the clergy is required to marry a same-sex couple.

In addition, the Marriage Equality Act and other New York law exempt religious organizations and "benevolent orders," like the Knights of Columbus, from non-discrimination requirements of public accommodations, for instance, commercial banquet halls.

As lawmakers in Albany, the state capital, debated marriage equality, media gave extensive coverage to church opposition to it and to detractors' insistence on exemptions to protect religious liberties.

Trzynka voiced frustration over the media. "Much of the news coverage made it feel as though religious people were against [ same-sex ] marriage—period!" he said, adding, the media gave the impression, moreover, that "'the church'" wanted religious exemptions "so that it did not have to support gay marriage in any way."

Trzynka knew differently, he said, referring to his own denomination and pastors' support of marriage equality, as well as that of Episcopal priests, United Church of Christ pastors and Presbyterian clergy.

Partly out of frustration, he said, "I decided to put out a sign in front of our church, saying that here at Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish, the pastor—me—would perform free LGBT marriages for the coming year."

Apparently, "It got a lot of buzz," Trzynka said. "I hope it caused people to hear again that many religious people believe God loves to bless such marriages."


This article shared 5232 times since Wed Jul 27, 2011
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Thailand parliament passes landmark marriage bill 2024-03-27
- On March 27, Thailand's parliament approved a marriage-equality bill by an overwhelmingly large margin—a landmark step that moves one of Asia's most liberal countries closer to legalizing same-sex unions, media ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Va. marriage bill, AARP, online counseling, Idaho items, late activist 2024-03-21
- Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed bills protecting same-sex marriages at a state level, surprising some, WRIC reported. The bills—passed out of both chambers along mostly party lines—will require clerks ...


Gay News

Greek legislature approves marriage equality 2024-02-15
- Greece has become the 36th country, and the first Christian Orthodox-majority one, to legalize same-sex marriage. The BBC reported that same-sex couples will now also be legally allowed to adopt children after the 176-76 vote that ...


Gay News

Tenn. legislators back bill that lets officials refuse to perform same-sex weddings 2024-02-15
- Defying a national ruling that authorized marriage equality, Tennessee lawmakers approved a measure that would allow public officials to refuse to perform weddings of same-sex couples, The Hill reported. Tennessee's House Bill 878/Senate Bill 596 says ...


Gay News

WORLD Marriage in Greece, UK politics, cruise death, HRC grants 2024-02-02
- The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece unanimously agreed at a recent meeting that it is "strongly opposed" to the Greek government's promised bill on same-sex marriage and adoption, Balkan Insight reported. The conservative New ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Marriage news, fighting fentanyl, anti-LGBTQ+ crimes, Grindr 2024-02-02
- The Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill that would affirm marriage equality in the state, The Washington Blade noted. House Bill 174, introduced by state Del. Rozia Henson (D-Prince William County), passed in the Democratic-controlled ...


Gay News

WORLD Activist honored, marriages in Estonia, Madrid law, trans sports item 2024-01-05
Video below - The National AIDS Commission (NAC) recently honored Caleb Orozco—a leading figure in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in Belize—for his instrumental contributions to the national HIV response, BNN reported. According ...


Gay News

Catholic Church allows priests to bless same-sex couples but reaffirms disapproval of gay marriage 2023-12-22
- LGBTQ+ couples can now receive blessings from priests, but the Catholic Church maintained its strict ban on gay marriage, according to a Vatican document approved by Pope Francis Dec. 18. This historic change in doctrine marks ...


Gay News

Greek government vows to back marriage equality 2023-12-22
- Despite opposition from the Church of Greece and within the ruling New Democracy, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' government said it will eventually move to legalize same-sex marriage, The National Herald reported. However, no timetable was ...


Gay News

Dignity/Chicago welcomes new rule on church blessings for same-sex marriages 2023-12-18
--From a press release - Dignity/Chicago, the advocacy organization for LGBTQI Catholics and friends, welcomed the news that the Vatican's doctrinal office has officially declared it possible for Catholic priests to bless same-sex unions and ...


Gay News

New Ways Ministry: Pope's blessings approval is Christmas gift to LGBTQ+ Catholics 2023-12-18
--From a press release - MOUNT RAINIER, Maryland—Statement by Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director, New Ways Ministry: Pope Francis gave LGBTQ+ Catholics an early Christmas gift this year by approving blessings for same-gender couples. The Vatican ...


Gay News

Pope Francis changes policy, allowing priests to bless same-sex unions; GLAAD responds 2023-12-18
--From a press release - GLAAD: "By removing barriers to priests blessing LGBTQ couples, the Pope accurately recognizes that LGBTQ people and our relationships are worthy of the same affirmation and support in the Church, and this strengthens couples in their ...


Gay News

LGBTQ+ couple the first in South Asia to have marriage recognized 2023-11-30
- Transgender woman Maya Gurung and Surendra Pandey became the first LGBTQ+ couple to have their marriage legally recognized in South Asia after they received a legal certificate in Nepal's Lamjung district on Nov. 29, The Guardian ...


Gay News

WORLD Thai marriage law, French bill, Miss Universe, IKEA, activist dies 2023-11-24
- Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said that the cabinet approved a draft law on marriage equality and that it would be brought to parliament during a session starting in December, Reuters reported. If the draft law ...


Gay News

Pope: Trans people can be baptized and act as godparents 2023-11-09
- Pope Francis has stated that trans people may be baptized and act as godparents or witnesses to marriage under the same conditions as any other adult—as long as a scandal does not result, according to PinkNews. ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.