Boston Gay Men’s Chorus to Mark 10th Anniversary of Marriage Equality At Arlington St. Church Service

BOSTON, Mass.—On Sunday, May 18, 2014, the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus (BGMC) will participate in “Anniversary and Renewal,” an interfaith service marking the 10th anniversary of marriage equality in Massachusetts at Arlington Street Church. David Wilson and Rob Compton, one of the seven plaintiff couples in the historic lawsuit Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health, which found that same-sex couples have a legal right to marry in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, will renew their vows at “Anniversary and Renewal.” The service takes place at 11 a.m. at the church, located at 351 Boylston St., Boston.

Wilson and Compton were the first of the plaintiff couples to legally wed, and BGMC performed at their history-making wedding on May 17, 2004 at Arlington Street Church. For “Anniversary and Renewal,” the Chorus will reprise its performance of “Marry Us” by Phillip Littell and Robert Seeley, which was sung at Wilson and Compton’s wedding. The Chorus will also perform several other selections relating to marriage and family.

To mark the occasion, the Chorus is also releasing a video commemorating the role that the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus played in the historic battle win marriage equality in Massachusetts. The video can be viewed online at http://tinyurl.com/10yrsmarry.

“I am so proud of the role the Chorus played in advocating for marriage equality,” said Boston Gay Men’s Chorus Music Director Reuben M. Reynolds, III. “Arts matter, and this is a wonderful example of the transformative power of music.” [pullquote] “Performing at David and Rob’s wedding in 2004 was among the most joyful and powerful experiences in the history of the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus,” said Craig Coogan, BGMC executive director. “We’re thrilled to be able to celebrate this historic milestone with them and mark the 10th anniversary of marriage equality for same-sex couples across the Commonwealth.”[/pullquote]

“The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus has provided a soundtrack to so many pivotal moments in our movement’s history,” said the Rev. Kim Crawford Harvie, senior minister at Arlington Street Church, who married Wilson and Compton. “I’m thrilled we’ll all be together to celebrate this special anniversary.”

“Rob and I are excited to celebrate our 10th anniversary with our Arlington Street Church family, the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus, and the entire LGBT community and allies, as we did when we got married,” said David Wilson.

“Performing at David and Rob’s wedding in 2004 was among the most joyful and powerful experiences in the history of the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus,” said Craig Coogan, BGMC executive director. “We’re thrilled to be able to celebrate this historic milestone with them and mark the 10th anniversary of marriage equality for same-sex couples across the Commonwealth.”[pullquote] The video “Marry Us,” chronicles BGMC’s role in advocating for marriage equality. BGMC had been performing the song “Marry Us,” an ode to love between same-sex couples who desire to marry, in concert since the 1998. [/pullquote]

The video “Marry Us,” chronicles BGMC’s role in advocating for marriage equality. BGMC had been performing the song “Marry Us,” an ode to love between same-sex couples who desire to marry, in concert since the 1998. As the Massachusetts legislature debated whether to pass a constitutional amendment to prevent same-sex couples from marrying in 2007, the Chorus recorded their version of the song. On the final day of debate, members of the Chorus hand-delivered copies to every member of the legislature in the hope that the universal language of music would drown out the heated rhetoric and speak to their hearts.

Sponsors

The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus is generously supported by Bank of America, JetBlue, Reproductive Science Center, and Manhunt. BGMC is a proud partner of the Massachusetts Cultural Council.