Posted on 08/03/2014 3:50:32 PM PDT by lightman
Couples marry, hundreds gather at Equality Fest in York
The inaugural event, held at the city's Cherry lane, was a celebration of equality for all, its organizers said
By Ted Czech
tczech@ydr.com @TedCzechYDR on Twitter
Updated: 08/03/2014 05:50:22 PM EDT
Carey and Michele Jenkins clasped hands, gazed in each other's teary eyes, and whispered things to each other, as they became legally married at York's first-ever Equality Fest on Sunday.
The Jenkinses, along with five more lesbian couples, were married by York Mayor Kim Bracey before several hundred who attended the event.
After Bracey married the couples, the crowd erupted in cheers.
"This just happened, here in York!" said co-emcee Sully Pinos, state Rep. Kevin Schreiber's chief-of-staff.
The event marked recent victories for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender community and its proponents. In May, a federal judge overturned the state's ban on gay marriage. York City Councilman David Satterlee, 48, and his partner of 13 years, Will Guntrum, 44, were the first local gay couple to receive a York County marriage license.
"Marriage is now open to everyone — gay, lesbian, heterosexual — all citizens of the commonwealth can live, love and create a family here in York," said Carla Christopher, the event's co-chair, who married partner T.L. Waid at the event.
The event drew notable politicians like Bracey, state reps. Schreiber and Brian Sims, gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf's wife, Frances Wolf, District Judge Joel Toluba and York City Councilman Michael Helfrich.
For the Jenkinses, it was not only a statement of their love, but of their perseverance.
"It's been a long run; we've been together 12 years," Carey Jenkins said.
Michele Jenkins said that they planned their wedding three times, and all three times they had to cancel, largely due to Carey Jenkins' health challenges.
"I have piece of mind knowing that whatever happens to me, our family will be okay," Carey Jenkins said. Their family includes daughters Desirae Hill and Nicole Auriemma.
Partners Amy Lippert, 55 and Sue Harmon, 57, both said they felt "happy" after the ceremony. The two have been together for 23 years, they said.
About 20 years ago, they bought rings, with the hope that someday they could use them in a legal wedding celebration.
"All you could do is just pretend ... but now it's real," Lippert said.
Melissa and Eric Grove were among three heterosexual couples who renewed their vows at the ceremony.
Melissa Grove, who dressed as a faery, said, "Eric and I both believe in love and that everyone should have the right to love who they want. We love love."
The event attracted hundreds of patrons, including girlfriend and boyfriend Sarah Young, 24, and Chris Kauffman, 25. The two wore shirts that read, "gay? fine by me."
Young, a graduate of York College, and Kauffman, a current student there, said a group at the school, Lambda, sold the shirts as a fundraiser to promote LGBT acceptance. Funds were then given to a local food bank, they said.
"I'm bisexual, so I'm a part of the community," Young said.
"And I'm an ally," Kauffman said.
Contact Ted Czech at 717-771-2033.
That’s rough on the ol’ peepers.
“Equality” some how excludes a majority of the people
I strongly doubt that Christ was referring to same sex couples who think that they are getting married....they're not.
Yup, I feel excluded by this "inclusiveness".
These perverts are not equal to me. I don’t practice sexual deviancy nor do I revel in my sins.
There were a few millstones in that picture, just saying...
State, please?
The Bible says that men should not lie down with men as with women. It doesn’t say anything about women lying down with women.
I realize that in pointing this out, I’m setting myself up to be flamed by both sides of this issue.
York, Pennsylvania. It’s an in your face, love it or lump it and be grossed out by it statement by a bunch of liberal democrats. The mayor, who preformed the “ceremony” is an incompetent boob, elected because she got big money from York’s one percenters, including Wolfie, who is running for Governor as one who will look after the middle class.
Pennsylvania—in the topics and keywords
And mercenary.
Li'l Kimbo charged the couples $50.00 a pop for doing the ceremony.
Sold her soul for $250.00.
If you see posts of interest to Pennsylvanians, please ping me.
Thanks!
Thanks lightman for the heads up
IMHO, This is possible only because gov't is involved: (inheritance, taxation, benefits, standing in court, etc.) It is NOT marriage.
I’m not going to get into a sexuality-gay marriage debate with you, what concerns me is the attitudes and actions that follow the normalization of gay marriage.
Those who don’t embrace it will be even more marginalized and excluded from society by the government and media elites.
Denying people jobs and employment on the basis of traditional religious or moral views would be taking the country down an unconstitutional and dark road.
Henry VIII imposed his liberal view of marriage using the power of the state making everyone conform to the Church of England or else.
The civil conflict-persecution in England did lead to some settling on our shores and creating a First Amendment prohibiting the “establishment of religion” that Henry VIII set up...
In Germany government employment and business ventures were taken away from a group of people in the 1933-1935 period.
Worse things followed that.....
Crony Captialism of the Appell and Wolf kind is a York tradition.
It doesn’t endear me to Corbett, the crony politician who’s buying his re-election as well with favors including contracts for highway and bridge work financed by higher taxes at the gas pump.
What, no polygamists? Maybe next year.
I agree with you. The proponents of gay marriage, of which, BTW, I am NOT one, are most intolerant of disagreement, and will use all sorts of force and intimidation to suppress it. We are not permitted to merely tolerate gay marriage, and gay lifestyles. We are required to embrace it and concede that it is morally right.
“Sold her soul for $250.00. “
She sold that a long time ago, to Wolfie and Appel. BTW, when she was community development coordinator, a city council woman caught her filing HUD grant applications that had been altered after city council approved them. The councilwoman, who is white, was accused of being racist, even though said councilwoman is married to a black man, and is usually the one throwing the racism charge around.
“Celebrate” it or be labelled “homophobic”.
Sucks, doesn’t it?
[[g]]
“Sucks, doesn’t it?”
Off to the punitentiary with you.
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