Two gay men in Texas who say they’ve been together for 53 years took advantage of the recent open door a federal judge gave to gay marriage in the state, and traded wedding vows before a crowd of hundreds.
The men, Jack Evans and George Harris, are both in their 80s, NBC News reported. And it took a while, but they finally found a church to perform the ceremony — Northaven United Methodist Church in North Dallas.
“The marriage of George and Jack is a sign of God’s love and their love for each other and our love for one another,” said Rev. Bill McElvaney, the minister who performed the ceremony, in NBC.
And the couple exchanged vows, invoking the name of God.
Mr. Evans said, NBC reported: “In the name of God, I take you George to be my married life partner. Mr. Harris replied, NBC said: “In the name of God I, George take you Jack to be my married life partner.”
The minister, Mr. McElvaney, saw the couple as life-changers for the church.
“It’s sufficient to say George and Jack are offering a gift, an invitation and a challenge to the United Methodist Church to become … a fully inclusive church,” he said, NBC reported. “And we thank them for that.”
Still, the marriage isn’t legal outside that particular church.
A federal judge ruled last week that the state’s ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional, opening the doors for same-sex ceremonies to go forth. But at the same time, the ruling still allowed authorities to enforce the ban that’s already on the books, pending an appeal that seems destined to hit the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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