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| Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders |
GLAD - Marriage in Massachusetts
Cote-Whitacre v. Dept. of
Public Health
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The Plaintiff Couples
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Sandi and Bobbi Cote-Whitacre
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| Sandi (left) and Bobbi (right) Cote-Whitacre, both 58, of
Essex Junction,
Vermont,
met in 1967 in the Women’s Army Corps, while stationed at Fort
McClellan
in Alabama. Their "dates" centered on a little coffee shop near
the
post. “I knew after our third date, this was the person I wanted
to
be with for the rest of my life,” said Sandi. They began planning
a
future together and talked through all the issues couples do who are
about
to embark on a lifetime commitment. In February 1968, on a
three-day
pass to Atlanta, Georgia, they purchased rings and held a private
ceremony
to celebrate their love. Now 38 years later, they still love each
other,
but remain completely vulnerable because their relationship is not
legally
recognized. Learn more about Sandi and
Bobbi... |
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Paul Trubey and Mark Pearsall
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| Paul Trubey (left), 42, and Mark Pearsall (right), 38, from
Lebanon,
Connecticut
met at University of Massachusetts Lowell and have been together for 16
years.
They were both born and raised in Massachusetts, and both of their
families
still live here. Mark and Paul want to get married in the state
where
their families live, and feel that it is important to embrace an
institution
that recognizes and protects them legally and validates their
relationship
together. Learn more
about Paul and Mark... |
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Kristin and Katy Gossman
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| Kristin (left), 39, and Katy
Gossman (right), 41, of Meriden, Connecticut,
have been together
since June of 1999, and had a commitment ceremony the
following year with
family, church members and friends. Kristin’s
parents have embraced
Katy, and remark how proud they are to have her as
part of the family, while
Katy’s parents are known to send “Happy
Birthday, Daughter-In-Law”
cards
to Kristin. Although the two shared an exchange
of vows in a commitment
ceremony, they are reminded daily that they still don’t
experience the many
benefits given to married couples. Learn more about Kristin
and Katy... |
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Ed Butler and Les Schoof
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| Ed Butler (left), 55, and Les Schoof (right), 53,
of New
Hampshire,
knew each other for several years before becoming a couple. They
met
at the Charles Playhouse in Boston, and started dating shortly
thereafter.
They have been together for 26 years, and have lived in Dorchester and
Brookline.
Learn more about Ed and
Les... |
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Mary Norton and Wendy Becker
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| Mary Norton (left), 45, and Wendy Becker (right), 44, of
Providence, RI have
been a
committed couple for 17 years, and want their five-year-old daughter
and
two-year-old foster son to know they are growing up in a family with as
much
love as all of the married families in their community.
Learn more about Mary and Wendy... |
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Jim Theberge and Michael Thorne
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Together 22 years, James Theberge (left), 47, and Michael
Thorne (right),
52,
and
their three-year-old son Nathaniel, live in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.
While
Maine is their new home, both spent most of their years in
Massachusetts:
Jim was born and raised in Massachusetts, completing both his education
and
medical residency here, while Mike moved to Boston from Maine in his
late
twenties. Learn more
about Jim and Mike...
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Amy Zimmerman and Tanya Wexler
Amy Zimmerman (left), 33, and Tanya
Wexler (right), 35, have been a committed couple
for
more than 14 years and live in New York City with their
three young children:
a six-year-old, a five-year-old, and a two-year-old, with another one due in February.
Tanya
and Amy attended Yale University where they met as members of an a
cappella
singing group. Although they had a formal commitment ceremony in
Central
Park in 1997, they view marriage as the only way to give their family
genuine
legal and social security. Learn more about Amy
and Tanya...
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Photo
Credits:
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Mainframe Photographics
Inc., © 2004, All rights reserved
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'Freedom to Marry Rings' image upper right © H. Mitchell.
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