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Marching Down the Aisle in D.C.

The Advocate talks to gay and lesbian couples lining up to marry in the nation's capital on Tuesday.


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Sinjoyla Townsend got her wish Tuesday in the nation’s capital.

“I don’t have a political platform, I just wanted to marry Angel — that’s all I wanted to do, and I got to do that,” she said, beaming at a gaggle of reporters and clutching the hand of her new spouse, Angelisa Young, shortly after they married.

Townsend and Young (pictured at right), one of the first same-sex couples to wed in Washington, D.C., had been partners for 12 years, had already celebrated a commitment ceremony, but until March 9 had been denied the right to join their lives in vows that were legally recognized by the District of Columbia.

“We were partners before now — ‘partners’ was left up to anybody’s interpretation of what partners were,” Young explained. “But now that we say we’re married, anywhere in the universe we go, we say we’re married, everybody understands.”

Young added that it had been “frightening” to think that she wouldn’t have been able to speak on behalf of Townsend if, for instance, she had gotten sick and been hospitalized.

Townsend and Young were one of three gay couples — all people of color — who married in back-to-back ceremonies held at the Human Rights Campaign headquarters. Marriages also took place at the D.C. Superior Court house and All Souls Unitarian Church

Michael Crawford, former cochair of D.C. for Marriage and a prominent voice for equality in both the LGBT and African-American communities, said it was “especially gratifying” that many of the first couples to marry were people of color since the district is majority African-American.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: david scott
    Date posted: 3/21/2010 6:30:20 PM
    Hometown: san francisco

    Comment:

    It should go without saying that a person should be allowed to marry whomever they choose. Until the right-wing, religious fanatics in this country stop trying to control everybody else and force their “morals” down the throat of the country, there can be no real freedom in the United States. Civil rights cannot simply be "voted away," that is the purpose of the Bill of Rights. Religious activists should be left out of these decisions completely. I invite you to my web pages devoted to raising awareness on this puritan attack on our freedom: http://freethegods.blogspot.com/2009/06/san-franciscos-gay-pride-parade.html

  • Name: Dan
    Date posted: 3/10/2010 7:57:00 PM
    Hometown: Pittsfield

    Comment:

    Congratulations! What heroes of love.

  • Name: Danielle
    Date posted: 3/10/2010 6:59:10 PM
    Hometown: Columbia, MO

    Comment:

    This really does capture the heart of the issue, doesn't it? It's about life and love, not politics. http://www.newsy.com/videos/d-c-reacts-to-first-same-sex-marriage-licenses/

  • Name: Gospel singah
    Date posted: 3/10/2010 11:43:46 AM
    Hometown: Tokyo JP

    Comment:

    to Leslie: If you are Christian, I suggest you buy a Bible that includes the four gospels; actually just ONE gospel will do just fine, If you are Jewish, which you may be since you seem to know Leviticus so well, with all respect I suggest you keep your religious views to yourself, If you are atheist, it is none of your business who someone prays to. Not to mention that this article says nothing about prayer in the first place.

  • Name: Leslie
    Date posted: 3/10/2010 9:32:07 AM
    Hometown: Memphis

    Comment:

    Who are they praying to? The God in the Bible calls this an abomination .

  • Name: Ginelle
    Date posted: 3/9/2010 8:12:16 PM
    Hometown: British Columbia, Canada

    Comment:

    Definitely beautiful love stories and how climatic for the couples to be amongst the first to experience this new found freedom and sense of equality. I think too the fact that most of the couples represented here are people of colour is significant and it also says a lot not only for African Americans but also the Gay Community and how each have come a very long way. This has been a tremendous day in Washington, D.C. and America.

  • Name: gaydad05
    Date posted: 3/9/2010 6:30:46 PM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    What beautiful pictures. Much happiness to these loving couples.

  • Name: Rick
    Date posted: 3/9/2010 6:16:34 PM
    Hometown: San Diego

    Comment:

    What beautiful images and a beautiful story! Great example for the rest of our country from the nation's capitol.



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