Joan and Linda Marry in Niagara Falls, Canada

By Joan Hervey - joan.hervey@usa.net

A GayPASG Release, October 19, 2005

Elba Cedeno, Lisa Megaro, Elmer Lokkins, Gustavo Archilla, Joan Hervey, Linda Geczi September 30, 2005

On September 30, 2005 at approximately 2:30 pm, Joan Hervey (51) and Linda Geczi (46) were married in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.  Following a week-long pre- honeymoon, during which we did just about every touristy thing available, we finally decided to "take the plunge", not in a barrel over the falls, but to the Two Hearts Chapel on Victoria Street, Niagara Falls.

Linda and I have been together since September of 2002, shortly after we met while working on a Habitat for Humanity project in Paterson NJ.  We have lived together almost continuously since then, making our home in Plainfield NJ.  We were Domestic Partnered in New Jersey on July 10, 2004.
 

Linda and Joan

Being new to the "getting married" thing, we realized we needed a license first, so we called City Hall and found a wonderfully friendly woman named Lydia, who was really excited to help us, and told us to come right over, because there were two other women from New Jersey coming in to do the same thing!  Not only that, but there were two gentlemen, Gustavo Archilla (90) and Elmer Lokkins (86), who were the oldest same-sex couple to have come from the US to get married in Canada.  They have been together for 60 years, and 2 years ago, they got their license, and got married after a "58-year engagement".  They were back in Niagara filming a documentary about their lives and their love story, visiting the clerk and the chapel in the process.  So what luck, we had the pleasure of their company and they also served as our witnesses; in my opinion, an auspicious omen of good fortune! (Plus, there's a chance we will be in the documentary!)

Once we had our license paperwork completed, we realized that we were missing another really important piece:  THE RINGS!  (Nothing like doing things on the spur of the moment!)

Happily, one of the nice people in City Hall gave us a business card of a jeweler nearby, and we went over and found 2 gorgeous rings, absolutely filling our every wish and need.

At about 2:00 pm we all met again at the chapel, and had 2 lovely ceremonies, with the Reverend Karen Hansen officiating.  First Elba and Lisa, witnessed by Gustavo and Elmer, and then Linda and me, also witnessed by the two gentlemen.  We then all drove over to a local restaurant and had a champagne toast and a lovely Italian lunch with our new friends.  Having been something of a cynic about such things for much of my life, I was bowled over by the sweetness of the feeling, and the power of making such an awsome commitment.

Of course, there's a lot to be said about the political and social implications, and what, if anything, it will mean in New Jersey.  But we will save that for future ruminations.  Right now, I think we will hold on to the sweetness of the moment.

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