LGBT couples to exchange vows at annual mass wedding
Photos by Lauryn Farris, QSanAntonio.com, February 9, 2012

Despite what Texas law may allow, some local LGBT couples will be among those exchanging vows at midnight on Valentine's Day when the Rev. Joe Sullivan conducts his annual mass wedding ceremony on the steps of the Bexar County Courthouse.

This is the second year that the Direct Action Network of San Antonio will be infiltrating Rev. Sullivan's mass wedding, an event he's presided over for the past 20 years.

Rev. Sullivan is an ordained Baptist minister and pastor of All Believers Church in San Antonio. For the past two decades he has conducted the Valentine's group weddings, sometimes marrying up to 300 couples in one day. In order for their union to be legal, couples are required to first get a valid marriage license from the City Clerk.

All photos on this page by Lauryn Farris are from last year's DANSA march and the mass wedding ceremony at the Bexar County Courthouse.

“Last year we had six same-sex couples take their rightful place on the steps of the courthouse with those who can legally marry, said John Dean Domingue, a lead organizer for DANSA. "This year we hope to see couples of many varieties there supporting marriage equality, not just same-sex couples."

After last year's ceremony, when told that same-sex couples had participated Rev. Sullivan replied, "They don’t have a license. If they took vows, it really means nothing." However, some who took part in the wedding say they beg to differ.

“The vows we took last year meant a lot to the couples who exchanged them," says DANSA organizer Jay Morris, who participated in the ceremony with his husband of 13 years. “It’s a shame that we can be married in the eyes of our families, our churches, our neighbors and our friends, but we are denied that recognition by the law.”

DANSA's Valentine's Day wedding action is organized as part of National Freedom to Marry Week. Marriage equality activists from around the country are swarming County Clerk's offices requesting marriage licenses or engaging in events, like the one in San Antonio, to raise more awareness.

“In 2010, Equality Texas released a poll showing that over 60 percent of Texans favor some form of legal recognition for same-sex couples," says Amanda Benton of DANSA, who is a straight ally. "On top of that, our city of San Antonio leads the nation in same-sex couples raising children. I’m hopeful for a future where if my children are LGBT and want to marry they legally can.”

DANSA's Valentine action kicks off at 10 a.m. on February 13 with a press conference in front of City Hall. Later in the evening, at 10:30 p.m. couples and LGBT activists will congregate at Milam Park (500 W. Commerce). At 11 p.m. the group will march to the steps of the Bexar County Courthouse where they will mingle into the crowd and participate in the mass wedding. DANSA is encouraging everyone who supports marriage equality to join them.