The principal plaintiffs in the case
that struck down Virginia's ban on gay marriage exchanged vows on
Saturday.
Tim Bostic and Tony London, who have
been together for 25 years, married at Christ and St. Luke's
Episcopal Church in Ghent. The men were issued a marriage licenses
in October but held off on holding a ceremony.
“We are excited and nervous,”
Bostic told 13News
Now on the eve of the wedding. “It may seem silly after 25
years to be nervous about getting married, but never having thought
this day would come and having it right around the corner helps us
understand the importance of marriage. Having so many of our loved
ones in town brings home how meaningful marriage is, and it validates
why we worked so hard to get here.”
The couple walked down the aisle
holding hands.
The men's application for a marriage
license was denied in 2013 by Norfolk Clerk George Schaefer. An
appeals court upheld a lower court's ruling striking down Virginia's
ban. On October 6, 2014, the Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal
in the case, effectively legalizing such unions in Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina and West Virginia. After being the first
gay couple to receive a marriage license from Schaefer, London
reportedly said, “It was a pleasure suing you,” to which Schaefer
replied, “I enjoyed being sued.”