Remarks of the Rev. William G. Sinkford

President, Unitarian Universalist Association
Wedding of Hillary and Julie Goodridge
May 17, 2004
Eliot Hall – Unitarian Universalist Association Headquarters

Welcoming of Guests

I am Rev. William Sinkford, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association. It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this happy occasion. And my great privilege to share the officiation of this ceremony with Deborah Kay.

We gather to witness and celebrate the marriage of Julie and Hillary Goodridge. Will you please remain seated and raise your voices in welcome to Hillary and Julie. (Guests sing “Here Come the Brides”)

The Ceremony

This loving and committed couple have been married in spirit for 17 years …in sickness and in health. They have supported one another in their personal and their professional lives. They have parented this beautiful young woman, their daughter Annie, who has been as anxious for this day as have Hillary and Julie.

There has been only one thing missing. This couple could not have their love and their commitment legally recognized as a marriage. Today, thanks to the dedication of so many, we are able to provide that missing element.

Hillary and Julie, you have lived your lives for the last three years at the intersection of the personal and the political. The legal case which forever will bear your names has been a gift, not just to the thousands of same sex couples who will marry this week, but to all of the residents of this Commonwealth. You have helped us expand, yet again, the definition of who we mean when we say “We the People.” And it is appropriate that on this historic day, we also celebrate the 50 th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision; another historic day which teaches us that on-going commitment will be required for this nation to finally fulfill its promise.

But this time is yours. Despite the cameras and the microphones, let us create a space, here and now, in which this most common ritual can be exactly what you wish it to be, a recognition and a celebration of your deep and loving commitment to one another.

If there is any person here present who knows of any reason why Hillary and Julie should not be married, let that person speak now.

If there are any persons here present who affirm the love and commitment of this couple and who celebrate the long awaited recognition of their relationship as a legal marriage, please signify by saying “We do.”

Hillary and Julie have asked several persons to speak briefly, to call into this space the history of their relationship and the community which cares for and supports them.

(Speakers followed)

(Deborah Kay continued with remarks and vows)

The exchanging of rings

Wedding rings. The circles of these rings are an outward sign of the circle of love in which you have chosen to live your lives.

(couple exchanged rings with these words):

“With this ring I thee wed.”

Pronouncement

In as much as you have testified to your continuing love and commitment by the exchanging of vows and the giving and receiving of rings, by the power vested in me by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I now pronounce you fully and legally married.

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