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Officiating at the ceremony was Claire Ebel, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union, and at exactly 12:01 AM on January 1, 2010, she pronounced the couples married. It was a joyful moment for everyone as a bell rang in celebration of the first minute of the New Year.
At the beginning of the ceremonies, Mo Baxley, the Executive Director of NH Freedom To Marry which has worked for this moment for years, reminded everyone that the work is not over, and that we have much to do. Arnie Alpert, Program Director of the American Friends Service Committee, also spoke about the long road to this moment, and the highway ahead.
As those of us in the audience were watching the ceremonies, I was thinking that at this moment there was no better place on this planet Earth to be on this New Year's Eve and Morning. At least no other place I'd want to be, and I think that feeling was shared by all of us there. And of all the events I've witnessed or attended in front of the State House during the past 40+ years, including seeing Presidents and candidates and even the Red Sox and Patriots, this event this day, and the one exactly two years ago for the inauguration of the Civil Unions Law, are tied for first.
While the Civil Unions ceremonies of two years ago were held on a bed of ice in 6 degree weather with a brisk wind, this one was held on a comparatively mild night with a temperature of 25 degrees with a fresh coating of fluffy snow on the ground. It was cold, but our frozen toes were warmed by the words of love exchanged by the newly married couples, who after Claire Ebel pronounced them married at 12:01 AM were invited to dance.
The cause continues, and next we have to focus on protecting marriage equality from a repeal effort this February, help defend it in the upcoming November elections, and fight to eliminate the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA) that still keeps federal benefits from our same-gender married couples.
Plus, we have much to do to continue the fight for transgender equality. With that in mind, contributions are needed now as much as ever to NH Freedom To Marry. You can visit their WEBSITE at http://www.nhftm.org. The organization has done good work. Let it continue. It must.
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