Yesterday Billy and Shayla got married in California. And yes, they were already married. They got married in my backyard at your standard wedding eight years ago with all of the relatives and all of the friends and a tent for eating and lots of food and drinks and a DJ and a Best Man and a Maid of Honor and a friend of a cousin named Fancy Nancy who pole-danced wearing short-alls to the bug-eyed astonishment of all.
That wedding was as real as cake but it wasn't legal. Because Billy wasn't yet officially Billy, but still had a name that was uh, feminine, and I remember one of older country relatives, dressed in his Church-going JC Penny's suit saying, "Well now, that was just like a real wedding."
"It was a real wedding," I said. "But it won't help when it's time to get insurance."
And now they can. Get insurance together. Because in California, these two people who have been together for ten years and married for eight and who have a child and a house and a mortgage and two jobs and who are the best people and parents you can imagine and who are beloved and dedicated and in love and committed- well, in California, that sort of thing is recognized no matter what your birth certificate says as to your sex or gender and they will really and truly with Official Documents and everything, let you marry the one you love.
And so it is.
When Billy met Shayla a decade ago, he told a friend of his, "Someday, that woman is going to make someone a good wife." Pause. "And when I say someone, I mean me."
Truer words were never said.
Shayla's a little huffy about having to jump through hoops to have her marriage legally recognized but, as she said, she did just get to have another wedding in San Francisco and she even wore flowers in her hair. Her beautiful red hair. And I think that the picture tells it all. And it makes me cry because they are so damn beautiful. They are who they are and they are married for each other and for good and for their son and mostly, for love.
Legal as cake in thirteen states. Sanctified by love which is real everywhere. Here and beyond.
Husband and wife. Billy and Shayla.
Beloved.
Wonderful! Wishing Billy and Shayla all the happiness an the world and recognition in all 50 states!
ReplyDeleteA damn shame it's so much harder for so many to simply be married. A happy future to the lovely family.
ReplyDeleteMakes me proud to be a Californian! Give them mty best wishes!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to them :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome awesome and most awesome and blessings to them both and to you because you are just amazing and I adore you.
ReplyDeleteRebecca
A shining light in an otherwise lightless time in this country.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many heterosexual marriages instantly destructed because of their love and marriage? That's what's supposed to happen, right?
What a happy ending to what must have been a long and difficult journey. How many heterosexual marriages never made it to an eighth anniversary?
ReplyDeleteHallelujah! WOOT!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all three of you. I'm sending all good wishes your way.
xoxo m
the michigan chapter sends love and blessings!
ReplyDeletelove IS love.
xxalainaxx
Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis made my day. (Except it's crappy that they had to jump through hoops. Damn it.)
Still, that is one beautiful family.
Sad they had to wait SO long to be legal. But very glad they didn't need the state or government to prove their love in the first place.
ReplyDeleteThis made my day too! Beautiful family. Love is love period.
ReplyDeleteThis is fabulous! We get some things right. Sweet Jo
ReplyDeleteThis makes me so glad for them I got goosebumps. So glad in my heart.
ReplyDeleteHappy 2nd Wedding, Shayla and Billy! What a beautiful place to be married again ~ flowers in your hair? Of course ~ it's San Francisco!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to that beautiful family you love, Ms. Moon.
ReplyDeleteParty time.
ReplyDeleteThis is very moving and beautiful. I am so glad you could share it with us. Their love deserves to be witnessed and validated and celebrated as much as yours and mine does. My best wishes to this lovely family for a lifetime of love and happiness!
ReplyDeleteAngie D
love joy happiness sweetness hoorah!!!!
ReplyDeleteGoddamn, this makes me happy to know. Three cheers for Billy and Shayla.
ReplyDeleteAngella- Your lips to god's ear. May it be so.
ReplyDeleteJoanne- And it is sinfully easy for any man and woman to be married. Legally. Arggh!
Denise- With the slight glitch of Prop 8, y'all did good. Thank you!
Jo- Yes!
Rebecca Dear- If I have any awesomeness, it is that which has been rubbed off on me by the ones I am so lucky to have in my life. You being one of those.
Ellen Abbott- Oh you're right. Damn. My marriage may fail any day now due to this event.
Joann- Plenty.
Ms. Fleur- I think they will read this.
Mrs. A- Love is love and it is good.
Stephanie- Aren't they? Yes.
Angie- And that much will ever be true.
Andrea- It surely made my day. And week. And perhaps month.
Sweet Jo- We do. Slowly. But we do. Except in Florida. Obviously.
Anonymous- Made me cry.
lulumarie- I know!
Nicol- I am so lucky to have these people in my life.
Mr. Downtown- Uh-huh. You know it.
Angie D- And if anyone has a shot at it, it is these people. Believe me.
Kathleen- Isn't this the best! Yay!!!
They look so happy. This is absolutely beautiful on so many levels. Thank you for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to both of them! :)
ReplyDeleteWell, now that's wild and wonderful. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteLove this! They are such a beautiful couple. It's been fun getting to know them through you.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that they could be married and have all the rights that go with it. Thank heavens some places on earth are enlightened, including GB now.
ReplyDelete