Astaghfirullah... 133 Pasangan Gay Nikah di Seattle
Astaghfirullah... 133 Same Sex Couples Wedding in Seattle
Editor : Ismail Gani
Translator : Parulian Manalu
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Seattle (B2B) - Ratusan pendukung rela melawan hujan dan dingin demi merayakan pernikahan 133 pasangan gay di Balai Kota Seattle, menandai hari pertama pemerintah negara bagian Washington, Amerika Serikat (AS), mengizinkan pernikahan sesama jenis.
Washington, Maine, dan Maryland, bulan lalu menjadi negara-negara bagian AS yang mengizinkan pernikahan sesama jenis kelamin setelah adanya dukungan mayoritas untuk memenuhi hak kaum gay.
"Ini berarti saya bisa memakai kata suami tanpa pertanyaan atau penjelasan," kata Corianton Hale, desainer grafis berusia 34 tahun yang pertama menikah di Balai Kota Seattle. Pria itu menikah dengan copywriter lepas berusia 44 tahun, Keith Bacon seperti dikutip Chicago Tribune.
"Kami mendaftar ke sini untuk menikah di Balai Kota karena kami pikir kami tinggal masuk dan keluar. Ini berakhir jadi pengalaman luar biasa," kata Bacon pada Minggu (9/12) waktu setempat.
Upacara pernikahan yang berlangsung sepanjang hari itu juga dihadiri Walikota Seattle, Mike McGinn, yang telah lama mendukung pernikahan sesama jenis.
"Sangat mengagumkan bisa mendukung komitmen para pasangan ini dan mewartakan permulaan hak-hak sipil baru," kata McGinn
Seattle - Hundreds of well-wishers braved cold and rain to celebrate 140 weddings at Seattle City Hall on Sunday, marking the first day that same-sex couples can marry in Washington state.
Washington, Maine and Maryland last month became the first U.S. states to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples by a popular vote, in a leap forward for gay rights.
"It means that I can use the word husband without question or explaining," said Corianton Hale, a 34-year-old graphic designer, who was one of the first to tie the knot at City Hall. He married freelance copywriter Keith Bacon, 44.
"We originally registered to come down here to get married at City Hall because we thought we'd just get in and get out," said Bacon. "It ended up being this incredible experience."
The ceremonies - which are scheduled to go on all day - were watched by Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, a longtime same-sex marriage supporter.
"What a wonderful thing to be able to support the commitment of these couples to each other and to herald the beginning of a new civil right," McGinn told Reuters inside City Hall.
