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Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Hosts Marriage Equality Pop-Up Party And Celebration, Officiates Marriages at City Hall

June 26, 2015

Video available at: https://youtu.be/fg0IeEgPm4w


Mayor Bill de Blasio: Brothers and sisters, and my fellow New Yorkers, my fellow Americans –

[Cheers]

– today, love wins! 

[Applause]

[Cheers]

Say it again with me, loud and proud – today, love wins!

Audience: Today, love wins!

[Applause]

[Cheers]

Mayor: What so many of us have believed in for so long – that all people – all people deserve the fundamental right to marry, no matter who they love or where they live – that fundamental right has now been affirmed as the law of this nation. 

[Applause]

[Cheers]

Today, we can feel deeply the immortal words of Dr. King – they have come to life – when he said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”

[Applause]

[Cheers]

And we take one more step today towards that more perfect union that is the very promise of this country.

As New Yorkers, we feel a singular pride today, because what began at the Stonewall Inn in 1969, when our brothers and sisters first banded together to stand up for fairness, for justice, for equality – that ignited a movement. And that movement swept across this nation and fueled today’s triumph – and that movement will continue to fight for the rights of all LGBT Americans. 

This is a culminating moment – and let’s just remember these powerful and simple words from Justice Kennedy, who wrote, “No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family.” 

It is in that spirit that I am thrilled and I am humbled to legally unite two New York couples today – 

[Applause]

[Cheers]

– and to reaffirm the vows of a third couple. 

But first, in the spirit of inclusion, and in recognition of the beautiful diversity of the LGBT community, a few words en Español –

[Mayor de Blasio speaks in Spanish]

Is everybody ready for a wedding?

[Applause]

[Cheers]

Denise and Cindy, please come forward. 

[Applause]

[Cheers]

Denise Niewinski and Cindy Jackson, of Long Island City, Queens – together since 1999, lovers of adventure, opposites who attracted. We have gathered here today to witness the exchanging of marriage vows of Denise Niewinski and Cindy Jackson. If there is anyone present today –

[Laughter]

– I don’t think it’s going to be a problem – if there is anyone present today who knows of any reason why this couple should not be married, let them speak now or forever hold their peace. Hearing none – 

[Laughter]

– do you, Denise, solemnly declare that you take Cindy to be your spouse?

Denise Niewinski: I do. 

Mayor: Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and keep her for as long as you both shall live?

Denise: Yes, I do. 

Mayor: Denise, I know you prepared some words. 

[Denise Niewinski speaks]

Mayor: Beautiful. Beautiful. As a symbol of your promise to Cindy, please place the ring on her finger. 

Denise: Oh, I’m shaking a little bit – sorry. 

Mayor: Do you, Cindy, solemnly declare that you take Denise to be your spouse?

Cindy Jackson: Yes.

Mayor: Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and keep her for as long as you both shall live?

Cindy: Always. 

Mayor: Cindy, I know you have some words for Denise.

[Cindy Jackson speaks]

Mayor: Beautiful. As a symbol of your promise to Denise, please place the ring on her finger?

Cindy: I’m shaking, sorry. 

Mayor: Inasmuch as you have consented to be united in the bonds of matrimony, and you have exchanged your wedding vows before all those present today, therefore, by the powers vested in me by the State of New York, I pronounce you married. 

[Applause]

[Cheers]

You may seal your vows with a kiss.

[Applause]

[Cheers]

Wonderful. 

But wait, there’s more!

Sarah Joseph and Katrina Council – Sarah Joseph and Katrina Council of Astoria, Queens – they – I’m not making this up – they met on a blind date at the Stonewall Inn. 

[Cheers]

And they have been together ever since. We are gathered here today to witness the exchanging of marriage vows of Sarah Joseph and Katrina Council. If there is anyone present today who knows of any reason why this couple should not be married, let them speak now or forever hold their peace. Okay, hearing none, do you, Sarah, solemnly declare that you take Katrina to be your spouse?

Sarah Joseph: Yes.

Mayor: Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and keep her for as long as you both shall live?

Sarah: I do. 

Mayor: Sarah, I know you prepared some words for today. 

[Sarah Joseph speaks]

Mayor: Beautiful. 

[Applause]

[Cheers]

As a symbol – as a symbol of your promise to Katrina, please place the ring on her finger. Beautiful ring. 

Do you, Katrina, solemnly declare that you take Sarah to be your spouse?

Katrina Council: Yes. 

Mayor: Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and keep her for as long as you both shall live?

Katrina: Yes.

Mayor: Katrina, I know you prepared some words for Sarah.

[Katrina Council speaks]

Mayor: Excellent. As a symbol of your promise to Sarah, please place the ring on her finger.

Katrina: There we go.

Mayor: Excellent. Inasmuch as you have consented to be united in the bonds of matrimony, and you have exchanged your weddings vows before all those present today, therefore, by the powers vested in me by the State of New York, I pronounce you married.

[Applause]

[Cheers]

We also are going to reaffirm some vows today. We are going to reaffirm the marriage vows of Terrence McNally and Thomas Kirdahy. Please step forward.

[Applause]

[Cheers]

I have say this is a particularly, particularly beautiful couple – one of the greatest American playwrights, who has done so much for us all, and my roommate from NYU.

[Applause]

[Cheers]

We learned together, in those early years, how to make sense of life, and I honor you for having gone on to fight for the civil rights and human rights of so many people. 

Now, we are gathered here today to witness the reaffirming of marriage vows of Terrence McNally and Thomas Kirdahy. If there is anyone present today who knows of any reason why this couple should not reaffirm their vows, let them speak now or forever hold their peace. Excellent. 

Do you, Terrence, solemnly redeclare that you take Thomas to be your spouse?

Terrence: Solemnly and joyfully.

Mayor: Do you promise to continue to love, honor, cherish, and keep him for as long as you both shall live?

Terrence: 100 percent.

Mayor: Do you, Thomas, solemnly redeclare that you take Terrence to be your spouse?

Thomas: I do. 

Mayor: Do you promise to continue to love, honor, cherish, and keep him for as long as you both shall live?

Thomas: Always.

Mayor: Inasmuch as you have consented to be reunited in the bonds of matrimony, and you have re-exchanged your wedding vows before all those present today, therefore, by the powers vested in me by the State of New York, I re-pronounce you married, and you may seal your vows with a kiss.

[Applause]

[Cheers]

My final – my final instruction to all the couples – and this is going to take coordination, couples – is you have to all simultaneously re-seal your vows with a kiss. Each couple, go!

[Applause]

[Cheers]

Let’s congratulate them all!

[Applause]

[Cheers]

[Wedding March plays]

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