It was a lovefest!
Annette Fisher and Linda Wilkins
Coney Island
“We didn’t like each other at first,” Wilkins said. “We played on opposing bowling teams and one day she walked up and said, ‘I’m Annette.’ I thought, ‘So what?’ But then we ended up talking, about all the things we didn’t want in a relationship, and we couldn’t stop talking for hours. She invited me over for dinner, threw some things together and — without even knowing it — cooked my favorite dinner. We found out our paths had crossed so many times — and now we’ve been together 16 years.
Coney Island
“We didn’t like each other at first,” Wilkins said. “We played on opposing bowling teams and one day she walked up and said, ‘I’m Annette.’ I thought, ‘So what?’ But then we ended up talking, about all the things we didn’t want in a relationship, and we couldn’t stop talking for hours. She invited me over for dinner, threw some things together and — without even knowing it — cooked my favorite dinner. We found out our paths had crossed so many times — and now we’ve been together 16 years.
Photo by Tom Callan
Dozens of gay and lesbian couples got married on Sunday, the first day that same-sex unions became legal in New York State after years of contentious debate. We got so caught up in the excitement and the historic moment of the day that we decided to let the happy couples speak for themselves:
Barbara Pilgrim and Geraldine Whitsett
Bedford-Stuyvesant
“We met in Bedford-Stuyvesant in the 1960s and now — 48 years later — we’re getting married,” Whitsett said. “I’ve been proposing to Barbara for years. We’ve often talked about going to Connecticut to get married but I would say ‘Let’s wait and see what happens in New York.’ I always believed that this day would come, but now that its here, I have butterflies in my stomach!”
Bedford-Stuyvesant
“We met in Bedford-Stuyvesant in the 1960s and now — 48 years later — we’re getting married,” Whitsett said. “I’ve been proposing to Barbara for years. We’ve often talked about going to Connecticut to get married but I would say ‘Let’s wait and see what happens in New York.’ I always believed that this day would come, but now that its here, I have butterflies in my stomach!”
Photo by Tom Callan
Rachael Pepe and Lailah Bragin Pepe
Flatbush
“We met seven years ago, but we were both seeing other people,” said Lailah Pepe. “For years and years, we thought about each other. And then we went on a blind date two years ago, and realized who each other was and that we had been thinking about each other for five years. It was kind of fateful and amazing. A year later, Rachael proposed on Fire Island.”
Flatbush
“We met seven years ago, but we were both seeing other people,” said Lailah Pepe. “For years and years, we thought about each other. And then we went on a blind date two years ago, and realized who each other was and that we had been thinking about each other for five years. It was kind of fateful and amazing. A year later, Rachael proposed on Fire Island.”
Photo by Tom Callan
Lisa Fane and Maggie Lally
Park Slope
“We knew each other professionally, but we didn’t know each other well,” Lally said. “We started to think about each other, though. And once night I was thinking about Lisa and all of a sudden I saw her on TV, doing media reports. Less than two weeks later, she walked by where I was working and came in to say hi. I gave her a huge hug. I just thought it was meant to be. And we’ve been together since then, for 14 years.”
Park Slope
“We knew each other professionally, but we didn’t know each other well,” Lally said. “We started to think about each other, though. And once night I was thinking about Lisa and all of a sudden I saw her on TV, doing media reports. Less than two weeks later, she walked by where I was working and came in to say hi. I gave her a huge hug. I just thought it was meant to be. And we’ve been together since then, for 14 years.”
Photo by Tom Callan
Paulette Dalpes and Kathy Obear
Crown Heights
“We were married in Massachusetts when they passed the law there, but we wanted to be married in New York as well,” said Dalpes. “I proposed the first time, so it was Paulette’s turn. We went to see Tyne Daly in the Broadway show, ‘Master Class.’ We’re both huge Tyne Daly fans. After the show, Paulette brought me back stage and asked Tyne Daly to witness as she proposed to me. She outdid herself.”
Crown Heights
“We were married in Massachusetts when they passed the law there, but we wanted to be married in New York as well,” said Dalpes. “I proposed the first time, so it was Paulette’s turn. We went to see Tyne Daly in the Broadway show, ‘Master Class.’ We’re both huge Tyne Daly fans. After the show, Paulette brought me back stage and asked Tyne Daly to witness as she proposed to me. She outdid herself.”
Photo by Tom Callan
Brian Juergens and Andy Swist
Williamsburg
“We actually did it backwards — we had our reception two years ago,” Juergens said. “I proposed to Andy when it looked like the law would pass in New York, but then it didn’t happen. So we said screw it, and we had a wedding anyway, a big to-do with friends and family. This weekend was amazing as well though. Now we have two anniversaries!”
Williamsburg
“We actually did it backwards — we had our reception two years ago,” Juergens said. “I proposed to Andy when it looked like the law would pass in New York, but then it didn’t happen. So we said screw it, and we had a wedding anyway, a big to-do with friends and family. This weekend was amazing as well though. Now we have two anniversaries!”
Photo by Tom Callan
Jennifer Warner and Jackie Youngs
Downtown
“In December, 2004, we bought rings at Tiffany’s for one another and went to Central Park.” Warner said. “It was freezing out and we were standing there, telling each other how committed we were. From that moment, we considered ourselves married. When we decided to get legally married, I kept saying it was just for practical reasons. But it was so much more than that. We were surrounded by friends and family. We felt recognized — finally we were actually married, even though we’d considered ourselves married for years.”
Downtown
“In December, 2004, we bought rings at Tiffany’s for one another and went to Central Park.” Warner said. “It was freezing out and we were standing there, telling each other how committed we were. From that moment, we considered ourselves married. When we decided to get legally married, I kept saying it was just for practical reasons. But it was so much more than that. We were surrounded by friends and family. We felt recognized — finally we were actually married, even though we’d considered ourselves married for years.”
Photo by Tom Callan
Taz Vallas and Edwin Ramos
Bay Ridge
“I had to go to an AIDS fundraiser for work, and I really didn’t want to go,” Vallas said. “After 15 minutes, I was getting my coat and about to leave, and suddenly my eyes locked with Edwin’s. I said, ‘OK, I can stay for a little bit.’ I finally walked up to him later and struck up a conversation. For once in my life, I made the first move — and it wound up being a 15-year relationship. I told him that night, ‘You’re the one I’m going to marry someday.’ Within a month we were engaged.”
Bay Ridge
“I had to go to an AIDS fundraiser for work, and I really didn’t want to go,” Vallas said. “After 15 minutes, I was getting my coat and about to leave, and suddenly my eyes locked with Edwin’s. I said, ‘OK, I can stay for a little bit.’ I finally walked up to him later and struck up a conversation. For once in my life, I made the first move — and it wound up being a 15-year relationship. I told him that night, ‘You’re the one I’m going to marry someday.’ Within a month we were engaged.”
Photo by Tom Callan
