- Title: USA/ CANADA: U.S. gay couple protest use of wedding video by Polish president
- Date: 21st March 2008
- Summary: (W5) QUEENS, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (MARCH 20, 2008) (REUTERS) PHOTOGRAPH OF FAY'S AND MOULTON'S MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE PHOTOGRAPH OF FAY AND MOULTON AFTER THEIR WEDDING
- Embargoed: 5th April 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: International Relations,Lifestyle
- Reuters ID: LVABEFH3632N21SPQCQLEOW88BB4
- Story Text: A gay couple living in New York who got married in Canada are outraged after seeing clips of their wedding on Polish national television, in a speech by Polish president Lech Kaczyñski warning against gay marriage in Poland.
When Brendan Fay and Thomas Moulton drove over the U.S. border to Canada in 2003 to get married, they never dreamed they would appear less than five years later in an inflammatory speech by Polish president, Lech Kaczyñski. A clip of the couple's wedding was shown during the speech, as well as their marriage certificate.
Fay said that he and Moulton first heard about the broadcast when a Polish radio station called them.
"We were shocked," Fay told Reuters, adding, "To see it being used as part of a campaign of intolerance and fear was quite shocking to us."
Fay wrote a letter to the Polish consul-general in NY and was politely met by staff when he delivered it. The consul-general has agreed to talk with Fay and Moulton, a meeting due to take place next Tuesday (March 25) or Wednesday (March 26).
Kaczyñski's speech was in opposition to the EU's Treaty of Lisbon, due to be signed in Poland on March 28, which seeks to assure rights of sexual orientation and same sex marriage in EU countries. In his speech, Kaczyñski warned that same sex marriage would be a danger to the predominantly Catholic country.
Coincidentally, Fay, a documentary producer and Moulton, a doctor at an oncology unit in the Bronx, are both Catholic and met at Sunday mass.
Fay and Moulton consider the broadcast an insult to their commitment and love. Fay said that he would like sit down with the Polish president and discuss the issue of same sex rights and marriage. But he says what we wants most is to see the president and prime minister grant lesbian and gay people equal rights and protections. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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