UNITY CHURCH CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY

(North Easton, MA – May 25, 2014) On Sat, May 17, 2014, members and friends of Unity Church of North Easton gathered to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Marriage Equality in Massachusetts. It was nine and a half years ago on November 18, 2003 that Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) of Massachusetts, Margaret Marshall, announced the Court’s historic decision that the Massachusetts Constitution guaranteed civil marriage between same sex couples. The court allowed 6 months for the Commonwealth’s Town Clerks to make arrangements to allow for same sex marriages to begin on May 17, 2004.

Immediately following the SJC’s decision, there were multiple attempts to block equal marriage. Locally, Unity Church members took the lead on working to maintain equal marriage by engaging in letter writing campaigns, lobbying elected officials, writing letters to the editor, demonstrating at the Constitutional Conventions, and speaking at local demonstrations. In the end, marriage equality won out.

During the first two weeks after May 17, 2004, then Unity Church Minister Rev. Eric Cherry married 12 couples; couples that had already been in devoted relationships from five to 25 years. It was an incredible time of celebration.

To mark these historic events, the Unity Community gathered together with its current minister, Rev. Kristin Grassel Schmidt, and celebrated the 10-year wedding anniversary of many of the couples from the original 12, and reflected on the shared struggle that resulted in such a joyous social change.  Rev. Schmidt, also a vocal supporter of equal marriage rights, said, “I am proud to serve among a congregation that embodies our Unitarian Universalist commitment to co-create a world where the dignity, preciousness, and rights of all people are affirmed.”

The service included a historical narrative lead by Cathy Adler and Mary Regan-Russo, heartfelt comments by Board of Selectman Colleen Corona, and G.L.A.D. Board of Directors member, Sandy Anderson, and musical offerings by Unity Church Music Director and Organist Richard Hill, Mary (violinist) and Mary Ann (clarinetist) Vacherweill, and bass soloist Bob Champagne-Willis.

Rev. Schmidt remembered all those still struggling for their basic human rights. Finally, Rev. Schmidt led all interested couples, gay and straight, through a moving marriage vow renewal.  It was a memorable event.

ABOUT UNITY CHURCH OF NORTH EASTON

Unity Church of North Easton, Unitarian Universalist, located in the National Historic District of North Easton, and originally formed from the Unitarian Society in 1855, has occupied the internationally significant Ames family memorial church building at 13 Main Street since it was built in 1875. The mission of Unity Church is to welcome people into community to grow in thought, spirit, and service to others. For more information, see their web site at www.unity-church.com.