Category Archives: marriage equality

Mass wedding at Baltimore Pride

We Do, mass wedding, gay marriage, same-sex marriage, marriage equality, Maryland, Baltimore, Baltimore Pride Festival, Druid Hill Park, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, gay news, Washington Blade

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Nineteen couples were surrounded by hundreds of well-wishers at Druid Hill Park on Sunday for Baltimore’s first mass same-sex wedding. Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake officiated at the ceremony held during the Baltimore Pride Festival. The event was organized by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB).

Same-sex marriage became legal in Maryland on Jan. 1 following a referendum passed in November 2012 by a 52-48 percent margin.

Youth Lights for Equality

The School Without Walls Gay Straight Alliance held a rally and vigil near the Supreme Court on the eve of oral arguments over the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8. Speakers included famed civil rights lawyer Gloria Allred. (Washington Blade photos by Michael Key) buyphoto 

Activists clash over marriage

Opponents of same sex marriage held a rally on the Mall and marched to the Supreme Court where they were met with chants from LGBT rights advocates. Activists from both sides of the marriage debate had gathered on Capitol Hill during the oral arguments for the Hollingsworth v. Perry case which will decide the fate of California’s Proposition 8. (Washington Blade photos by Michael Key and Blake Bergen) buyphoto 

Valentine’s Day weddings at D.C. courthouse

Princess Calloway, Jennifer Gavrish, gay marriage, same-sex marriage, marriage equality, gay news, Washington Blade

Princess Calloway and Jennifer Gavrish (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

A lesbian and gay male couple were among 14 couples who tied the knot
in Valentine’s Day weddings on Thursday at the D.C. Superior Court’s
Marriage Bureau. The weddings were part of an event that courthouse
officials billed as “Fourteen on the Fourteenth.”

With bright red hearts decorating the walls of the Marriage Bureau’s
wedding room, Virginia residents Princess Calloway and Jennifer
Gavrish were joined in marriage at a 2 p.m. ceremony. Earlier in the
day, Pennsylvania residents Michael Lausterer and Stephen Jarvis II said
“I do” as the two exchanged wedding vows in the same room.

Judges and court employees designated as marriage officiants began
performing same-sex marriages at the courthouse in March 2010, when
D.C.’s same-sex marriage law took effect.

Year in Review: 2012 Photography

2012 was another momentous year in LGBT News. Here are some of the highlights of the year from the Washington Blade photo archive. (Washington Blade photos by Michael Key, Blake Bergen, Pete Exis, Jonathan Ellis and Ann Little)buyphoto