As Tom Keegan and Davidson Lloyd declared “I do” in front of approximately a hundred spectators in Bruin Plaza on Friday, they provided a glimpse of a possible future in which same-sex couples enjoy full marital rights.
The Student Coalition for Marriage Equality created a lavish setting of purple and black for its Fourth Annual Same-Sex Wedding Ceremony. Keegan and Lloyd stood with their daughter, Connor Keegan-Lloyd, to exchange vows in celebration of their 31 years together.
While Keegan and Lloyd’s celebration was the highlight of the event, speakers such as the mayor of West Hollywood addressed the changing perspectives of the public toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender marital rights.
“I’m hopeful because people are changing their opinions rapidly as they are being exposed to events that educate them on LGBT rights,” said Mayor Jeff Prang. “The more people understand, the more likely they are to be tolerant and accepting of the LGBT community.”
Prang said that 20 years ago, he did not imagine society’s views on LGBT rights would be where they are today. He said new discussions between politicians have led him to believe the barriers of discrimination can be broken down.
This month, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has vetoed legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in recent years, announced that he is opposed to amending the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage, according to reports from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Currently, couples in the LGBT community are unable to receive the benefits and rights accorded to married couples. Keegan and Lloyd’s ceremony contained every aspect of a civil wedding, except they did not sign an official civil marriage license.
John Ireland, a special education teacher who performed the ceremony, said he looks forward to the day when same-sex couples can sign an official license when they marry. He said Friday’s ceremony represented a right he feels should be offered to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation.
Today, 12 states offer health care benefits for employees in domestic partnerships, according to the Web site for Lambda Legal, a national organization litigating for LGBT rights.
Rachel Zwass, president of the Student Coalition for Marriage Equality, said that domestic partnerships are not enough. She also said that while there are many hopeful signs toward LGBT marital equality, work still needs to be done, and she would like to see legalized marriage for people of all sexual orientations.
“The reasoning behind our activism towards equal marriage rights is that it really isn’t anyone’s place to judge who should be able to enter a marriage,” Zwass said. “I think all people should have the opportunity to solidify their love for one another.”
Currently, same-sex couples can only legally marry in Massachusetts, and heterosexual married couples hold more than 1,000 federal rights that are not provided to same-sex couples, according to Marriage Equality USA, an organization with chapters across the country.
On March 4, the California Supreme Court heard arguments in a case challenging the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. The court will announce its decision in June.
Mark Stefanos, editor in chief of the Bruin Standard, said he believes the issue of marriage should not be defined by the government, but that if it must be defined, it should be a states’ rights issue. Stefanos said he believes the federal government should not be involved because same-sex marriages are not defined in the Constitution.
Francesca Chang, internal vice president of the coalition, said she believes the government does not do enough to promote marriage equality.
“I don’t think politicians are taking a firm stance on marriage equality and it’s because, in our nation, the issue is so sensitive. But the reason why we exist is to pressure state and country leaders to take a firm position on marriage equality,” Chang said.
Keegan said demonstrations from the public show government officials the need to change marital laws to be inclusive of sexual orientation.
“Politicians will support the issue if they think the public wants it, and the public will be more likely to support LGBT rights when they realize we are not just a sexuality, but people, too,” Keegan said.
Prang said he agrees that these types of ceremonies are important towards educating and changing the minds of Americans.
“This great civil rights movement for the LGBT community can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we all need to do our part,” he said.