Jewish woman among first to marry same-sex partner in UK

New law prompts slew of weddings; PM Cameron hails ‘important moment’ for the country

Nikki Pettit (L) and Tanya Ward (R) pose for photographs after their wedding ceremony in Brighton, southern England on Saturday, March 29, 2014 shortly after new gay marriage laws took effect. (photo credit: AFP/Leon Neal)
Nikki Pettit (L) and Tanya Ward (R) pose for photographs after their wedding ceremony in Brighton, southern England on Saturday, March 29, 2014 shortly after new gay marriage laws took effect. (photo credit: AFP/Leon Neal)

A Jewish woman and her partner were among the the first same-sex couple ever to be officially married in Britain on Saturday, after a law authorizing same-sex marriages went into effect throughout the country.

Twenty-nine-year-old Nikki Pettit, who is Jewish, married Tania Ward, 28, in a Jewish ceremony in Brighton, on Britain’s south coast.

Ward, a pastry chef, first met Pettit, a childcare worker on a blind date six years ago. They were one of many gay couples in England and Wales said “I do” Saturday as a law authorizing same-sex marriage came into effect at midnight, the final stage in a long fight for equality.

Following the first marriages amid a supposed race to wed, Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: “Congratulations to all same-sex couples getting married today — I wish you every possible happiness for the future.”

The Conservative party leader also described the change as an “important moment for our country,” and a rainbow flag flew above government offices in London in celebration.

“It is important for us to have the same title as a heterosexual couple,” Ward, who also identifies as Jewish, was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying. “The way the law was before, it just emphasized the difference of having a civil partnership.”

“Liberal Judaism is delighted to be correcting an injustice,” said Rabbi Danny Rich, chief executive of Liberal Judaism in the UK. “The issue of equal marriage on which Liberal Judaism led and gave evidence to parliament has always been to us a matter of prophetic justice, in accordance with our founding principles that fairness trumps legal and ritual technicalities.”

Rabbi Janet Darley of South London Liberal Synagogue, where the couple are members, officiated at the ceremony.

“This is a wonderful and momentous occasion for me,” she was quoted by the Jewish Chronicle as saying last week, ahead of the ceremony. “I have had so many friends who have fought so long and so hard for this. It really is one of those shehecheyanu moments.”

“It was really important for me to have a rabbi and other Jewish elements present,” Pettit reportedly said. “It also means a lot for my mum and the rest of my family, who all attend the Liberal Jewish synagogue together.”

While 15 countries have legalized gay marriage and in another three it is allowed in some regions of the country, homosexuals remain persecuted in many parts of the world.

The Church of England, insisting weddings should take place only between a man and a woman, secured an exemption from the new law.

In London, John Coffey, 52, and Bernardo Marti, 48, exchanged vows as the clock struck midnight, before being pronounced “husband and husband”.

In Brighton on England’s south coast, Neil Allard and Andrew Wale exchanged vows and rings in the opulent splendor of the Royal Pavilion in front of about 100 guests.

Wearing velvet-collared three-piece suits with white flowers in the buttonholes, the smiling couple of seven years hugged and kissed after sealing their marriage.

“We are very happy this day has come finally. It’s very exciting,” said Wale, a 49-year-old theater director.

Campaigners have insisted that only the right to marry gives them full equality with heterosexual couples.

“These weddings will send a powerful signal to every young person growing up to be lesbian, gay or bisexual — you can be who you are and love who you love, regardless of your sexual orientation,” said Ruth Hunt, acting chief executive for gay rights charity Stonewall.

Civil partnerships in England have been legal since 2005 and marriage brings no new rights — the ability to adopt, for example, was introduced in 2002.

Tim Jarmaine-Groves (L) and his husband, Richard Jarmaine-Groves, hold their wedding certificate as they pose for photographs after their same-sex wedding in north London on March 29, 2014 (photo creit: AFP/Carl Court)
Tim Jarmaine-Groves (L) and his husband, Richard Jarmaine-Groves, hold their wedding certificate as they pose for photographs after their same-sex wedding in north London on March 29, 2014 (photo creit: AFP/Carl Court)

“We didn’t want to get married until it was a marriage that my mum and dad could have,” said Teresa Millward, 37, who was marrying her long-term girlfriend on Saturday.

The gay marriage law is the final victory in a long battle stretching back to the decriminalization of homosexuality in England in 1967.

Cameron backed the change despite strong opposition from members of his party and the Church of England, which has rejected the idea that clergy be allowed to bless couples in same-sex marriages.

But Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the leader of the world’s 80 million Anglicans, indicated on Thursday that the Church would no longer campaign against the issue, and would continue to demonstrate “the love of Christ for every human being”.

Resistance elsewhere

A poll for BBC radio said 20 percent of British adults would turn down an invitation to a same-sex wedding.

However, the survey also found 68 percent agreed gay marriage should be permitted, with 26 percent opposing it.

Peter McGraith and David Cabreza, who have been together for 17 years, also married shortly after midnight in front of friends and their two adopted sons in London.

They hope their wedding will send out a message to places like Nigeria, Uganda and Russia where the idea of gay marriage is a distant dream.

“There’s a lot of gay men and lesbians around the world who are not invited to the party,” McGraith, a clothing designer, told AFP ahead of the big day.

Same-sex couples who were married abroad are now recognized under the new law, although not everywhere in the United Kingdom.

Scotland, which has devolved powers, is expected to introduce gay marriage later this year, while the British-controlled province of Northern Ireland remains deeply divided on the issue and has no plans to change the law there.

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