UUA News & Events: Equal Marriage, One Year Later: UUA Toasts Vitality of Marriage in Massachusetts

News 2005

Four of the plaintiff couples cut their anniversary cake with Mary Bonato, the lawyer who won their case.

Julie and Hilary Goodridge, David Wilson and Rob Compton at the GLAD photo on the steps of the State House.

Photos by Simona Munson, Erika Nonken, and Deborah Weiner

Equal Marriage, One Year Later:

UUA Toasts Vitality of Marriage in Massachusetts

View the celebration

(Boston, May 17, 2005) As party-goers moved up the stairs of UUA headquarters past thousands of hearts sent in by Unitarian Universalist children across the country to honor the first anniversary of equal marriage in Massachusetts, music played in Eliot Hall and Unitarian Universalist couples wed in the last year gathered to toast the vitality of marriage in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The UUA, site of the marriage of Hillary and Julie Goodridge (lead plaintiffs in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health) one year ago, had love blooming everywhere, as the paper hearts sent from across the United States bore their messages of congratulations and support saying “same sex marriage – rock and roll” and “happy anniversary, long live love.”

The Rev. William G. Sinkford, President of the UUA, welcomed guests to the anniversary party. In attendance, in addition to Hillary and Julie Goodridge and their daughter Annie, were the other Unitarian Universalist plaintiff couples in the landmark civil right suit: David Wilson and Robert Compton, Gloria Bailey and Linda Davies, and Ed Balmelli and Michael Horgan. Also in attendance were Ellen Wade, Richard Linnell and Gary Chalmers, plaintiffs in the GLAD case, as well as Attorney Mary Bonauto, who successfully argued the case in front of the Massachusetts Supreme Court.

Many other Unitarian Universalist couples from across Massachusetts also attended and were moved by the four toasts offered at the gathering. President William Sinkford, who co-officiated at the marriage of the Goodridges, remarked on his pleasure that “marriage is alive and well in the State of Massachusetts.” Hillary Goodridge (joined by her wife Julie and daughter Annie) reflected on how “the capacity of people to love outweighs fear,” and how “seeing people in love is a powerful thing.” Peter Hams, the son of Marcia Hams and Susan Shepherd (representing the children of equal marriage couples), offered a third toast, remarking to the children present at the event, “this is for you,” and encouraging couples who had not yet had children to consider doing so saying, “this is a great thing.” The Rev. David Pettee, the first Unitarian Universalist minister to pledge not to sign marriage licenses until they were first made available to same sex couples, did not sign a marriage license again until after May 17, 2004. He toasted Hillary and Julie Goodridge and Attorney Mary Bonauto, saying, “you have been an inspiration to us all.”

President Sinkford invited the plaintiff couples and Mary Bonauto to cut into the lemon/raspberry butter cream cake made by Cambridge Unitarian Universalist Rachel Herman and streamers flew across Eliot Hall in celebration of the day. The couples left to UUA for a series of celebratory events, including a party at the Parkman House (next door to UUA headquarters) hosted by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, a photograph in front of the Massachusetts State House, and other anniversary parties scheduled for this evening in honor of this historic anniversary.

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