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.
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.
...Lancaster’s no better...believe me...
It doesn’t endear me to Corbett...
...and the comments by those two brainiacs at the end of the article don’t endear me to my alma mater, York College of Pa...
“.Lancaster’s no better...believe me...”
I seem to recall that the last year of Mayor Smithgall’s term, Lancaster city had one homicide. The same year, York city had fifteen. You booted your mayor out, and we re-elected boy Brenner. Go figure. Since then, both cities have slid ever closer to the sewer.
Since then, both cities have slid ever closer to the sewer.
...the good citizens of the Red Rose city elected Rick Gray, the Bill DeBlasio of Amishland, and I fully expect to see something like this going on soon, except on a larger scale...
In the meantime, the good citizens of York elected in succession - Charlie the dunce Robertson, Boy Brenner and Li’lKim Bracey. The bad guys and the old boy barons (Wolfie, et al) have had free reign.
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