Washington DC Weddings Begin; Washington Post Defends Gay Couple Picture

Lesbian and gay couples began celebrating their civil marriages in Washington, DC this morning, after the district’s new marriage law went into effect last week. Several dozen couples have married so far, with marriage license requests expected to increase in the coming weeks. Here’s a report from the local ABC affiliate:

(Note: You may recognize Rev. Darlene Garner from my post on the American Prayer Hour featuring a gay Ugandan.)

Unfortunately, the reporter’s closing “no protesters” line wasn’t quite accurate. The Washington Post reports that around 10:00 federal security marshalls removed a quasi-christian protester.

U.S. security marshals escorted one woman out of D.C. Superior Court Tuesday morning after she began yelling “God wouldn’t recognize” same-sex marriages. The woman had been standing in line with same-sex couples who were waiting to pick up their marriage licenses.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post has been hit with reader protests about a picture of two men kissing on the front page of last Thursday’s newspaper. Brace yourself; the photo is all too shocking. Ladies, avert your eyes lest your genteel spirits be brought low.

Jeremy Ames and Taka Ariga kiss after applying for a marriage license

That picture caused a bunch of people to cancel their Washington Post subscription. Seriously.

Ombudsman Andrew Alexander answered the howls of protest admirably today:

Did the Post go too far? Of course not. The photo deserved to be in newspaper and on its Web site, and it warranted front-page display.

News photos capture reality. And the prominent display reflects the historic significance of what was occurring. The recent D.C. Council decision to approve same-sex marriage was the culmination of a decades-long gay rights fight for equality. Same-sex marriage is now legal in the District. The photo of Ames and Ariga kissing simply showed joy that would be exhibited by any couple planning to wed – especially a couple who previously had been denied the legal right to marry.

There was a time, after court-ordered integration, when readers complained about front-page photos of blacks mixing with whites. Today, photo images of same-sex couples capture the same reality of societal change.

Congratulations to the newly wed. May you find joy in your unions and peace in your homes.

And thanks to the Washington Post Ombudsman Andrew Alexander for getting it and standing up to voices of prejudice.