Today I get to do something for which I have waited a very long time - celebrate the marriage of my friends Chris and Hampton. They have been together since 1997.
Chris is a gifted photographer and took the photos at our wedding. Thankfully, we know a lot of talented photographers and Ed took a great one of Chris and Hampton that day.
When Don and I left Arlington, Va. early in the morning on April 30, 2009 for our wedding festivities, everything was as it always had been. By the time we returned from our mini-moon on May 4, the District of Columbia had announced it would recognize the marriages of same sex couples performed in other states. We thought that was a pretty great wedding present. Don even asked if we had enough thank you cards to send one to every Council membe (we didn’t).
Then on my brithday this year, DC gave me another awesome gift when it passed its own same sex mariage statute. After the requisite time it takes for Congress to ignore a law passed in DC, same sex marriage was permitted in the District of Columbia.
Chris and Hamp were the 37th couple in line on the fateful day that the first same sex couples were issued marriage licenses. I was in New York for work, but following along on Facebook. It was national news with dozens of reporters and photographers gathered outside.
Here’s a picture of Chris and Hamp emerging from the municipal building with their marriage license and cupcakes.
Two weeks later, on March 17, Chris and Hamp were legally wed in the District of Columbia Superior Court with a couple of close friends to witness (I was in Florida at the time - boo hoo!). Below Jennifer M. and Matthew D. serve as official witnesses to the union.
A larger celebration is to be held today at the H Street Country Club and I am so excited. It’s going to be a wonderful.
Best wishes to Chris and Hamp for a long and happy life.