Austin Celebrates Pride Month with Free Wedding Ceremonies
In a heartwarming display of love and equality, Austin city hosted a series of free wedding ceremonies during Pride Month. This initiative by Travis County aims to honor and celebrate the fifth anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, which recognized same-sex marriage as a constitutional right nationwide.
Sweet ‘I Do’s’ in the Travis County Courthouse
Against the backdrop of the Travis County Probate Courthouse, couples held hands, exchanged rings, and said their vows. Couples from all aspects of the LGBTQ+ community journeyed to Austin, some enduring long drives, to participate in this celebration of their love and commit their lives to each other.
Solo Adame and Cassandra Ynojosa, drove over three hours from San Angelo for their ceremony – a testament to their commitment to each other and their desire to celebrate their union in a place where it would be accepted without prejudice. “I held a Pride event over there and they would protest against it, so it’s not very accepting over there,” said Ynojosa. “To come over here and it being so accepting … it was huge.”
Birth of an Annual Tradition
This isn’t the first time that Travis County has celebrated Pride Month with free wedding ceremonies. However, unlike the previous year’s one-day event, this year couples could choose from several dates within Pride Month to tie the knot. This expanded focus allowed more couples to take part in the celebratory event, with around forty ceremonies taking place throughout the month.
Judge Bianca Garcia, who volunteered alongside other judges to preside over the ceremonies, expressed the significance of the event: “I wanted to be a part of this day to celebrate love, and really commemorate how far we’ve come, but also how far we still have left to go.”
Last-Minute Love Stories
The spirit of spontaneity and love was alive throughout the event. Jasmine Johnson and DesMonique Farris, for instance, decided to take the leap at the Travis County Probate Courthouse with just three days’ notice. Instead of planning a large formal ceremony, the couple chose to honor their love in a simple and intimate ceremony. As a result, they were joined by only a handful of loved ones – perfect proof that love can’t wait!
This series of Pride Month wedding ceremonies serve as a reminder to the people of Austin and across the US of the long-fought victories over prejudice and discrimination. It provides a moment to reflect on the distance the community has come, while recognizing that there is still far to travel on the path to total equality.