There will be the traditional wedding cake, a live band and a
reception, but the marriage taking place between two UCLA students
today in Bruin Plaza will not be legal.
The Student Coalition for Marriage Equality at UCLA is hosting
the mock wedding to educate students on campus about the situation
same-sex couples are in.
Though the couple, William and Sean will consider themselves
married, the state of California does not recognize same-sex
marriages.
The couple asked not to have their last names printed to
symbolize all the people in their situation, not just them
specifically.
A mock wedding was held last year on campus, and convinced the
couple to take part in the one this year.
“It was kind of a no-brainer for us to dedicate to being
part of it,” Sean said. “It personalizes the struggle
of two specific people in the UCLA community and I hope that that
statement rings loud and clear for everyone who attends.”
Groups that oppose same-sex marriage in California are currently
looking to defeat Assembly Bill-19, which was defeated 35-37 with
10 abstentions Wednesday in the California Assembly.
If passed, AB-19 would make the state family code
gender-neutral, defining marriage as a civil contract between two
people, rather than between a man and a woman.
The bill would also affirm the right of religious institutions
to refuse to perform same-sex ceremonies.
State Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, motioned for the
bill to be reconsidered, although today is the last day the
Assembly can vote on bills to pass them along to the state
Senate.
Opponents of the bill say they believe that homosexual behavior
is condemned in both the Old and New Testament.
The Student Coalition for Marriage Equality was formed this
school year to promote marriage equality and to prepare for the
June 2006 ballot, which will most likely include amendments to
preserve the sanctity of marriage.
Sean said he realizes this event may not sway a majority of
student voters, but emphasized this is an important time for
same-sex marriage activists.
“Now we actually have the choice and power to change
something and for so long its been a freestanding, “˜no
questions asked’ adoption of archaic practice, but now we
have the ability to question and the ability to challenge and
change, hopefully for the better,” he said.
Organizers said one of the main goals of this event is for the
coalition to help make the UCLA community aware of where same-sex
marriage stands in California, and they believe the wedding
ceremony will be a strong way to conclude the quarter.
“This gay marriage is really significant. As a brand-new
club we have made so much progress already. We want to go out with
a bang,” said Sara Sposito, the director of publicity for the
coalition.
This is the first time there has been a group on campus strictly
working to promote marriage equality, and the first at any
University of California school, according to the coalition.
“For me same-sex marriage is just a civil rights issue, a
matter of fundamental fairness,” said Gabriel Rose, a
first-year political science student, and founder and president of
the coalition.
“If (the amendment) passes, it would take away any chance
of having legal same sex marriage, and partnership rights that gay
couples have,” Rose said.
Rose and members of the coalition are currently working to put
together a database of California voters who will vote down the
potential amendment which would prevent gays from marrying.
“We can’t beat this anti-gay amendment unless we
have every single person talking to voters and making sure it
doesn’t pass. If it does there is no way this type of
beautiful ceremony can become a reality in California,” Rose
said.
Same-sex marriage and partnership rights that come along with
marriage are currently banned in 14 states, Rose said.
Massachusetts is the only state in which same-sex marriage is
legal. The issue of same-sex marriage is decided upon by each
individual state, not by Congress.
The wedding will take place at 12 p.m. in Westwood Plaza.