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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: |
CONTACT: Brendan Fay
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| July 28, 2003 |
718-721-2780
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New York Gay Couple Married in Toronto
Irish Gay Leader Travels to Canada for Civil Marriage
(New York) Irish gay activist Brendan Fay (45) and his longtime partner, Tom Moulton (45), were legally wed Sunday July 27th in a ceremony at St James Park beside the St Lawrence Hall in Toronto. The 30-minute marriage ceremony was conducted by Judge Harvey Brownstone of Toronto’s family court. Local openly gay city council member Karl Rae was also among the small gathering of friends and activists. Local Toronto family Emily and Bernard King–Visser, and daughters Megan and Miriam, cheered and threw rose petals as the judge declared Tom and Brendan legally wed. Witnesses were Edward DeBonis and Vincent Maniscalco, friends of the couple from Dignity New York, the catholic gay group where Fay and Moulton met seven years ago. They chose the park beside the famous St. Lawrence Hall where a century before abolitionists lead by Frederick Douglas advocated for equality and civil rights for fugitive slaves.
A Civil Marriage Trail
Click on the triangle above to view a videoclip!
At the emotional ceremony Judge Brownstone, in his judicial black robes and red sash, guided the New York couple in signing the official marriage registry. An exchange then followed of vows and readings and messages. There were sudden tears as all became aware of what was happening. Later, the justice handed the couple the "Record of Solemnization of Marriage ", license # E227152 which Fay had received in Ottawa on July 4th. It reads "this is to certify that Thomas Anthony Moulton and Brendan Francis Fay were married on July 27, 2003 in the city of Toronto,” signed by Judge Harvey Brownstone and witnesses Vincent Maniscalco and Edward DeBonis. After the ceremony the wedding party went for brunch to the Four Seasons Hotel. Traveling for the return home Fay and Moulton were congratulated by immigrant agents at the Toronto airport and on the flight to La Guardia were presented with a bottle of champagne and card from the Air Canada flight 720 crew. Later at evening Mass of Dignity NY, prayers of thanks were offered with a reception for the pioneering newly weds. De Bonis and Fay were cheered as they recalled the day’s historic events.
Fay has organized the city's inclusive St Patrick’s parade for the past four years and currently directs the ‘Silence to Speech Project’ a video series about being Irish and gay in America. He also leads spiritual retreats and frequently speaks at colleges and churches. Moulton is a pediatric oncologist at Montefiore hospital in the Bronx.
Ontario is one of two Canadian provinces including British Columbia that have legalized gay marriage since the June 10th ruling by the appeals court in Ontario and the Canadian government’s decision not to appeal. Canada now joins The Netherlands and Belgium in extending civil marriage to same sex couples. Unlike the Netherlands and Belgium there is no residence requirements, thus opening doors for same-sex couples to travel and marry. The Canadian decision comes at a time when the Irish government along with others across the globe is reassessing laws seeking to end discrimination against same sex households and families.
The couple's wedding story was featured in the city’s Irish Voice paper as the first Irish to be legally married in Canada.
“Only weeks ago we had a beautiful church wedding and reception surrounded by hundreds of family and friends, said Fay “ We had the cake, rings, cards, gifts, an abundance of love, prayer, commitment, yet we walked out of the church legal strangers denied fundamental legal rights (1049) and societal or church recognition. Reality hits home and people are amazed when we tell them we could be deported, denied entry to emergency room, denied health insurance, and right to adopt or naturalization. The Toronto ceremony changed all that. when as grooms we returned across the border with our marriage license. We welcome this awesome moment. From the beginning of the modern movement gay activists have understood the right to civil marriage as being at the heart of the struggle for equality,” said Fay.
Judge Brownstone reminded the couple of the international treaties with the mutual agreement honoring Canadian marriages. The Judge also noted that in family court every day he presides over family breakdown, abuse and separations and that witnessing and legally recognizing the love and intimacy Fay and Moulton was a joy for him as much as the couple
Today Fay and Moulton are celebrating their new legal status. Fay is believed to be the first Irish gay person to be legally wed in Canada.
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The couple will have a brief honeymoon in Fay’s hometown Drogheda in Ireland at the end of August, holding a reception for friends and family on the 29th.
In the meantime Fay along with other New York activists, are busy with the “Civil Marriage Trail 2004 project”, helping other couples make the journey north for marriage equality. “We will work abroad and in the U.S. until the day when same-sex couples can travel to their nearest marriage bureau to marry,” said Fay.
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