Detroit, Michigan -
Eleven same-sex couples exchanged vows in Ferndale, Michigan, a Detroit suburb, Saturday in a ceremony presided over by mayor Robert Porter.
The commitment ceremony was part of the weekend's Motor City Pride festival in Ferndale. Over the past 20 years the city of 22,000 has gone from a struggling, working-class town to the epicenter of Detroit's gay community.
The mass ceremony allowed the couples to publicly pledge their love and at the same time draw attention to the issue of same-sex marriage which is illegal in Michigan.
The couples had all been refused licenses by the county.
"My belief is in the rights of people," Porter said as he began the ceremony under a blue and pink banner that said: "To love, honor and be recognized."
"I believe that is my responsibility as a (public) servant," Porter said.
He was joined in performing the marriages by the Rev. Mark Bidwell, pastor of Metropolitan Community Church.
Although the ceremony carried no legal weight, the 11 couples were given commitment certificates.
Only a handful of people demonstrated against the ceremony, many of them from outside the community.
©365Gay.com® 2004
The commitment ceremony was part of the weekend's Motor City Pride festival in Ferndale. Over the past 20 years the city of 22,000 has gone from a struggling, working-class town to the epicenter of Detroit's gay community.
The mass ceremony allowed the couples to publicly pledge their love and at the same time draw attention to the issue of same-sex marriage which is illegal in Michigan.
The couples had all been refused licenses by the county.
"My belief is in the rights of people," Porter said as he began the ceremony under a blue and pink banner that said: "To love, honor and be recognized."
"I believe that is my responsibility as a (public) servant," Porter said.
He was joined in performing the marriages by the Rev. Mark Bidwell, pastor of Metropolitan Community Church.
Although the ceremony carried no legal weight, the 11 couples were given commitment certificates.
Only a handful of people demonstrated against the ceremony, many of them from outside the community.
©365Gay.com® 2004
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.
