Rhode Island State Senator Donna Nesselbush married a gay couple
on Thursday as the marriage law she sponsored in the Senate went into
effect.
Nesselbush, in her capacity as Pawtucket's municipal court judge,
married Bill Byrnes and Peter Mitchell shortly after 11 AM in a
ceremony held at the Pawtucket City Council chambers.
The men, together 22 years, married with their children and
friends close by.
“Peter and Bill, now on this historic day, August 1, 2013, the
first day that marriage equality is a reality here in Rhode Island,
now on this day when you have exchanged not only wedding vows but
also those beautiful rings as an eternal and everlasting symbol of
the vows you exchanged on this historic day, now then, as the chief
judge of the city of Pawtucket, I now declare that you are married.”
“What God has joined together here this morning, let no one ever
separate. Congratulations. The husbands may kiss.” (The video is
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Nesselbush, who is gay, is also planning to marry her longtime
partner.