NETHERLANDS: Amsterdam's mayor marries U.S. gay couples during the annual Gay pride parade

Record ID: 277419

  • Title: NETHERLANDS: Amsterdam's mayor marries U.S. gay couples during the annual Gay pride parade
  • Date: 2nd August 2009
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOB COHEN, MAYOR OF AMSTERDAM, PERFORMING WEDDING CEREMONY ON A BOAT, SAYING: "Pilo Kulkus, do you take Scott Brown to be your lawful wedded husband and do you promise to observe faithfully all the duties imposed by law on a marital status. To this, what is your answer?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) PILO KULKUS, SAYING: "I think I say I do." (SOUNDBITE) (E
  • Embargoed: 17th August 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Netherlands
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Topics: Legal System,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVADY96MWC2W0IOXDOH38U2XSTHF
  • Story Text: Mayor of Amsterdam marries five American-Dutch gay couples during pride parade in an implicit criticism of the lack of same-sex marriage in many U.S. states.
    It was an ordinary group wedding in many respects -- champagne, hors d'oeuvres, music and kisses.
    That it was performed for five male couples on a boat by the mayor of Amsterdam with tens of thousands of gay, straight and lesbian cheering spectators, was almost incidental.
    On Saturday (August 1) at the peak of the annual gay pride parade, Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen married five American-Dutch couples in an implicit criticism of the lack of same-sex marriage in many U.S. states.
    Tens of thousands of spectators cheered as Cohen performed the ceremony on a cruise around the city's canals to celebrate the high point of the city's gay pride festival. Eight years ago Cohen presided over the first legal Dutch gay marriage.
    But there was a less-than-subtle message as well: all five couples had at least one partner from New York, where a battle over the legalisation of gay marriage rages on.
    The New York-Amsterdam connection is much in the news this year, with the cities celebrating a 400-year relationship.
    During the wedding ceremonies Mayor Cohen spoke of the "lasting connection of old and new Amsterdam."
    The mood was festive even by wedding standards, with pink clothes and rainbow flags aplenty, loud dance music classics and throngs floating alongside the wedding boat.
    "The Gay Pride is certainly the event of the year where we all celebrate liberty in all respects and that includes sexual liberty for people, whether they are straight or gay, to live their own lives," said Dutch Minister of Education and Culture Ronald Plaster who took part in the canal parade.
    But in a nod to the controversial nature of the celebration, fast security boats also shadowed the wedding party, on a close lookout for disruptions.
    For the most part, the couples celebrating their unions disavowed activism - most said they planned a honeymoon and then a return to home and their regular lives.
    Others vowed to continue the fight for gay marriage rights.
    "I think it's good to make a statement about gay marriage. It should be open it should be free, it should be...it should be normal and let's do it!" said Pilo, a newly-wedded husband, who was dressed as an American settler while his partner wore an Indian outfit.
    Gay marriage is not legal under New York state law, but the state does recognise gay marriages consecrated elsewhere where it is legal. So the couples wed on Saturday will be treated as married for certain purposes by the state.
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