LGBT
Related: About this forumSame-sex weddings to begin at Washington National Cathedral
By Michelle Boorstein, Published: January 8
Washington National Cathedral the seat of the Episcopal Church, one of the worlds largest cathedrals and the host of the official prayer service for the presidential inauguration later this month has decided to start hosting same-sex weddings.
In some ways, the announcement that is expected Wednesday morning is unsurprising for a denomination and a diocese that long ago took up the cause of marriage equality. But the cathedrals stature and the image of same-sex couples exchanging vows in the soaring Gothic structure visited by a half-million tourists each year is symbolically powerful.
Even though it is known that the Episcopal Church, a small but prominent part of American Christianity, has been supportive of equality for gay men and lesbians, its something for us to say we are going to do this in this very visible space where we pray for the president and where we bury leaders, said the Rev. Gary Hall, who became dean of Washington National Cathedral in the fall. This national spiritual space is now a place where [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] people can come and get married.
As attention, political capital and lobbying dollars have been focused on fights over civil marriage, organized religion has been slow to embrace rights for same-sex couples. The vast majority of houses of worship dont host blessings or weddings for people of the same gender.
more
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/washington-national-cathedral-to-start-holding-same-sex-weddings/2013/01/08/ed72c5f0-59f1-11e2-88d0-c4cf65c3ad15_story.html?hpid=z3
BillStein
(758 posts)with a link to the story and the note- This is where I want to get married.
teenagebambam
(1,592 posts)I think this is sort of old news, as I know of at least one same sex couple (a Cathedral employee) who had a ceremony there, a couple years ago...but still, it's the first time it's been policy. If I wasn't already married I'd be having it there for sure!