Reverend Billy’s Un-Wedding Album
On Valentine’s Day 2010, over 50 straight couples gathered in the snow in front of the Bethesda Angel in Central Park for a mass Rev. Moon-style ritual of Unmarriage. Led by activist and performance artist Rev. Billy, these couples signed certificates of unmarriage and ceremoniously suspended their vows. They promised to stay committed but unmarried until gay weddings are legalized in New York State and the rest of the country.
Lining up the couples, brides on the left.
Rev. Billy preaches against Prop 8.
Related: gender and sexuality, marriage, New York
Becky Garrison is a panelist for The Washington Post's On Faith column and contributes to a range of outlets including The Guardian, The Revealer, American Atheist magazine, and Religion Dispatches. Her books include Jesus Died for This?: A Satirist's Search for the Risen Christ, Red and Blue God, Black and Blue Church, and Ancient Future Disciples: Meeting Jesus in Mission-Shaped Ministries.
February 22nd, 2010 at 4:49 pm
This reminds me of a stand that Reverend Don Southworth, who at the time was the minister at my parents’ Unitarian church in Atlanta, took in response to the inability of gays and lesbians to legally wed: he wouldn’t marry anyone. Here’s the statement he made at the time about his reasoning:
http://www.soulforce.org/article/670