Twists on tradition as the Empire State prepares to legalise gay marriages

Published on Friday 22 July 2011 18:04

NEW York makes gay marriage legal tomorrow, and same-sex couples are celebrating with bachelor parties, many with twists on tradition.

"My mother would kill me if we weren't having a dinner before the wedding," said Jonathan Mintz, the city's commissioner of consumer affairs. "And as if that weren't enough, we're also having a brunch."

Tomorrow, at Mayor Michael Bloomberg's official residence, Gracie Mansion, Mr Bloomberg will do the honours as Mr Mintz, 47, marries John Feinblatt, 60, the mayor's chief policy adviser.

New York, the most populous US state to legalise same-sex marriages, becomes the sixth with legal gay marriage a month after the legislation was approved by Governor Andrew Cuomo and lawmakers.

Like many other same-sex couples, Jeanette Coleman and Kawane Harris bucked tradition by attending their pre-wedding night out with their spouse-to-be in tow.

Ms Coleman, who was kicked out of the military after coming out, kissed her partner under a sabre at a party in Manhattan. "We just want what everyone else has," she said.

Meanwhile, the state's childcare agencies are preparing for an adoptions boom as gay couples take a next step.

"It's sort of the next natural progression," said Jonathan Truong, who adopted a boy after marrying his partner, Ed Cowen. "You have that feeling of wanting to be in a family."