Louisville Celebrates Marriage Equality With Wedding Contest
Christy Smith and Angela Brent photo by Steven Skelley
Louisville Celebrates Marriage Equality With Wedding Contest
Louisville, Kentucky
By Thomas Routzong and Steven Skelley
Louisville, Ky., has been at the forefront of the fight for equality and civil rights in the Midwest for decades. From the Beaux Arts LGBT bar in the 1950’s to the segregation sit-in protests in the 1960’s, Louisville has often pointed the way of progress to their state and to the country.
While national news has recently been focused on an intolerant Kentucky Clerk of Courts and several opportunistic politicians who continue their rants to make LGBT people second-class citizens, Louisville embraced the Supreme Court decision that recognized the right of all people to marry.
"We formed the Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau LGBT Hospitality Task Force and that is made up of key players in our community. We have representation from the Mayor's office, the Fairness Campaign, Pride Foundation, key attractions and hotels. On the heels of the Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality, we launched a search for a couple to Say I Do In Lou," said Christa Ritchie – Communications Manager for the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The Say I Do In Lou campaign became a national search for an LGBT couple to win a dream wedding package. NPR shared the information and applications began to come in from around the country.
The Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau LGBT Hospitality Task began seeking sponsors and before long, businesses were lining up to support same-sex marriage and equality. The prize package soon included limo transportation, music, flowers, wedding coordinator services, photography, decorations, lodgings, videography and more.
"When we started to plan for the wedding, someone asked if we'd be able to get sponsors. Well, every single thing they will experience while they are here has been sponsored. We had so many offers that we had to turn donors away! Sponsors are already lining up and asking if this will be an annual event so they can participate next year!" said Nicole Twigg – Director of Tourism Development for the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Donors included 8UP Elevated Drinkery and Kitchen Rooftop Deck, Hilton Garden Inn Downtown, 21c Museum Hotel and Proof on Main, A Thorough Fare Events, Cake Flour, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Fleur de Lis Events & Design, The Henry Clay, Jaco Limousines & Transportation, Louisville Pride Festival, Pizzazzle Events, RIVIE Restaurant & Lounge, Ross Gordon Photography, VOICES of Kentuckiana and Xhale Salon-Spa.
Ross Gordon - Owner of Ross Gordon Photography, had a special reason for volunteering his time and talents. "I volunteered to do this wedding because I am a huge supporter of the LGBT community. I believe all people should be treated equally. When I was in school, I had a gay classmate named Patrick. One day, two guys were picking on him in class and the teacher was laughing. I stood up and told them to shut up and ended up in a fistfight in class with two rednecks. The teacher threatened to expel me. When I said I was going to tell the principal how the teacher had been laughing as the guys picked on Patrick, he decided not to send me to the principal's office."
Christy Smith and Angela Brent of Fort Wayne, Ind., became the lucky winners of the all-expense-paid wedding weekend getaway.
Smith and Brent have been together for ten years and have been engaged since 2009.
"We've been together for ten years. We were going to wait for our ten year anniversary but then we won the contest!" said Smith.
The wedding date of September 19 had special significance. Brent’s mother passed away from ovarian cancer in 2002. Her birthday was on September 19.
The wedding ceremony was held in the historic Henry Clay Center adjacent to the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown which also provided upscale lodgings for the couple.
"This is actually the first LGBT wedding I've performed. I've performed nine weddings so far. The irony of the situation is that for years I have been legally allowed to perform wedding ceremonies that I was legally not allowed to participate in as a gay man. This location is perfect too because The Henry Clay was once the home of the first LGBT bar here in the 1950's," said Chris Hartman – Director of the Louisville Fairness Campaign.
After a beautiful, private ceremony attended by family and friends, Smith and Brent were whisked away to the Inaugural Louisville Pride Festival for what the CVB billed as the World’s Largest LGBT Wedding Reception.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer introduced the two brides onto the main stage by saying, “Welcome to Louisville where love won! This is all about equal rights. It's been a long, hard journey for a lot of folks. You all stayed with it. Our legal system stayed with it. Our really fun, quirky Convention and Visitor's Bureau said how can we celebrate this landmark in our history. A little competition called Say I Do In Lou. In a national competition, these lucky ladies won.”
The crowd cheered the mayor’s words, the cake cutting and the bouquet toss. National singer / songwriter Steve Grand performed a surprise song for the couple as they enjoyed their first dance as newlyweds.
Mayor Fischer presented Smith and Brent with a commemorative Bourbon Barrel top bearing their initials and the date of their wedding.
"The people here are so nice. Everyone welcomed us with open arms. We don't feel like we deserve all this kindness. It has been amazing" said Brent.
Article by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong. Copyright 2015 Sunny Harbor Publishing. Contact Us: Sunny Harbor Publishing, PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32956. Phone: 321-446-7552. Email: [email protected]. Photo collage by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong.
Keywords: Steve Grand, Mayor Greg Fischer, Louisville Pride Festival, Chris Hartman, Louisville Fairness Campaign, Hilton Garden Inn Downtown, Christy Smith, Angela Brent, Ross Gordon Photography, Nicole Twigg, Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau, Christa Ritchie, Gay Travelers Magazine, gay travel gay Louisville, Steven Skelley, Thomas Routzong, Kentucky, KY, Louisville,
Louisville, Kentucky
By Thomas Routzong and Steven Skelley
Louisville, Ky., has been at the forefront of the fight for equality and civil rights in the Midwest for decades. From the Beaux Arts LGBT bar in the 1950’s to the segregation sit-in protests in the 1960’s, Louisville has often pointed the way of progress to their state and to the country.
While national news has recently been focused on an intolerant Kentucky Clerk of Courts and several opportunistic politicians who continue their rants to make LGBT people second-class citizens, Louisville embraced the Supreme Court decision that recognized the right of all people to marry.
"We formed the Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau LGBT Hospitality Task Force and that is made up of key players in our community. We have representation from the Mayor's office, the Fairness Campaign, Pride Foundation, key attractions and hotels. On the heels of the Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality, we launched a search for a couple to Say I Do In Lou," said Christa Ritchie – Communications Manager for the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The Say I Do In Lou campaign became a national search for an LGBT couple to win a dream wedding package. NPR shared the information and applications began to come in from around the country.
The Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau LGBT Hospitality Task began seeking sponsors and before long, businesses were lining up to support same-sex marriage and equality. The prize package soon included limo transportation, music, flowers, wedding coordinator services, photography, decorations, lodgings, videography and more.
"When we started to plan for the wedding, someone asked if we'd be able to get sponsors. Well, every single thing they will experience while they are here has been sponsored. We had so many offers that we had to turn donors away! Sponsors are already lining up and asking if this will be an annual event so they can participate next year!" said Nicole Twigg – Director of Tourism Development for the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Donors included 8UP Elevated Drinkery and Kitchen Rooftop Deck, Hilton Garden Inn Downtown, 21c Museum Hotel and Proof on Main, A Thorough Fare Events, Cake Flour, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Fleur de Lis Events & Design, The Henry Clay, Jaco Limousines & Transportation, Louisville Pride Festival, Pizzazzle Events, RIVIE Restaurant & Lounge, Ross Gordon Photography, VOICES of Kentuckiana and Xhale Salon-Spa.
Ross Gordon - Owner of Ross Gordon Photography, had a special reason for volunteering his time and talents. "I volunteered to do this wedding because I am a huge supporter of the LGBT community. I believe all people should be treated equally. When I was in school, I had a gay classmate named Patrick. One day, two guys were picking on him in class and the teacher was laughing. I stood up and told them to shut up and ended up in a fistfight in class with two rednecks. The teacher threatened to expel me. When I said I was going to tell the principal how the teacher had been laughing as the guys picked on Patrick, he decided not to send me to the principal's office."
Christy Smith and Angela Brent of Fort Wayne, Ind., became the lucky winners of the all-expense-paid wedding weekend getaway.
Smith and Brent have been together for ten years and have been engaged since 2009.
"We've been together for ten years. We were going to wait for our ten year anniversary but then we won the contest!" said Smith.
The wedding date of September 19 had special significance. Brent’s mother passed away from ovarian cancer in 2002. Her birthday was on September 19.
The wedding ceremony was held in the historic Henry Clay Center adjacent to the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown which also provided upscale lodgings for the couple.
"This is actually the first LGBT wedding I've performed. I've performed nine weddings so far. The irony of the situation is that for years I have been legally allowed to perform wedding ceremonies that I was legally not allowed to participate in as a gay man. This location is perfect too because The Henry Clay was once the home of the first LGBT bar here in the 1950's," said Chris Hartman – Director of the Louisville Fairness Campaign.
After a beautiful, private ceremony attended by family and friends, Smith and Brent were whisked away to the Inaugural Louisville Pride Festival for what the CVB billed as the World’s Largest LGBT Wedding Reception.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer introduced the two brides onto the main stage by saying, “Welcome to Louisville where love won! This is all about equal rights. It's been a long, hard journey for a lot of folks. You all stayed with it. Our legal system stayed with it. Our really fun, quirky Convention and Visitor's Bureau said how can we celebrate this landmark in our history. A little competition called Say I Do In Lou. In a national competition, these lucky ladies won.”
The crowd cheered the mayor’s words, the cake cutting and the bouquet toss. National singer / songwriter Steve Grand performed a surprise song for the couple as they enjoyed their first dance as newlyweds.
Mayor Fischer presented Smith and Brent with a commemorative Bourbon Barrel top bearing their initials and the date of their wedding.
"The people here are so nice. Everyone welcomed us with open arms. We don't feel like we deserve all this kindness. It has been amazing" said Brent.
Article by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong. Copyright 2015 Sunny Harbor Publishing. Contact Us: Sunny Harbor Publishing, PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32956. Phone: 321-446-7552. Email: [email protected]. Photo collage by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong.
Keywords: Steve Grand, Mayor Greg Fischer, Louisville Pride Festival, Chris Hartman, Louisville Fairness Campaign, Hilton Garden Inn Downtown, Christy Smith, Angela Brent, Ross Gordon Photography, Nicole Twigg, Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau, Christa Ritchie, Gay Travelers Magazine, gay travel gay Louisville, Steven Skelley, Thomas Routzong, Kentucky, KY, Louisville,
