Paul Richmond Blog

Photo by Michael Key/Washington Blade Two days ago, I had the privilege of finally marrying the man I love. It was unlike anything I ever imagined the big day would be. For starters, my fantasy wedding never involved spending fourteen hours on a bus because my own state has yet to recognize same sex unions. But I also never dreamed I would get to share my wedding with twenty-four other inspiring couples - deeply committed to one another and the cause of marriage equality - or work with two of the most passionate and creative activists I've ever known, Joshua and Stephen Snyder-Hill, and their amazing MarriageEvolved team who went so far above and beyond that my head is still spinning. And in my wildest dreams, I never would have guessed that Dennis and I would venture all the way to our nation's capital, stand before the U.S. Supreme Court and vow our commitment to each other just days before they make a historic decision about the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8,...

Several years ago, I painted Noah's Gay Wedding Cruise to express my optimism about the marriage equality movement. I believed we were on the cusp of great progress, and I chose to symbolize our inevitable victory with my own version of the Noah's Ark story. I painted a grand ark/cruise ship filled with happy gay and lesbian animal couples and a few human guests too (like Ellen DeGeneres/Portia de Rossi, and Elton John/David Furnish). There are even some drowning sinners (such as Ann Coulter, Larry Craig, Sally Kern, and Fred Phelps)! Fast-forward to now. Indeed we have come a long way! Twelve states have legalized gay marriage, and important decisions about DOMA and Proposition 8 are being considered by the Supreme Court. Unfortunately I still live in a state where I am not allowed to get married, but Dennis and I have decided to do it anyway. We are excited to be a part of a special initiative by the group MarriageEvolved called C-Bus of Love. Along with 24 other...