Gay Couples Begin Marrying in D.C.
March 11, 2010
Gay couples began marrying in the District of Columbia yesterday after the first marriage licenses were issued last week.
Due to a processing period, the first ceremonies could not take place until now.
Gay marriage is expected to contribute over $US50 million to the local D.C. economy, with a large stream of income coming in from out-of-state couples, particularly from New York. Wedding vendors across the city have put out a new line of products for same-sex couples, including groom-groom and bride-bride cake toppers. Hotels are offering huge discounts to gay couples who choose to hold their reception on their premises.
Not all the buzz about D.C.’s gay marriage law been positive. The Washington Post last week ran a photo on its front page of a gay male couple locking lips. The paper received a torrent of complaints, including close to thirty subscription cancellations. The image was also shown online.
One customer emailed the Post saying:
“I am 65 years old and I realize that the world is changing rapidly – much more rapidly than I would like it to. While I realize that the Post must report on these changes – even the ones with which I do not agree – I feel that the picture on Thursday morning was an affront to the majority of your readership. It is not something that I want coming into my home.”
The customer decided to cancel her subscription after having been a post reader for over four decades.
Another customer said: “I would appreciate it if your cover pictures would not be so disturbing where my kids can see it easily on the kitchen table... please don’t shove this “Gay” business in our face.”
The paper, however, had no qualms and defended its decision to run the image.
"News photos capture reality,” the Post’s internal ombudsman wrote in his blog. “And the prominent display reflects the historic significance of what was occurring. The recent DC Council decision to approve same-sex marriage was the culmination of a decades-long gay rights fight for equality."
D.C. joins five states in the US which permit same-sex marriage.
