Archive Version of
Partners Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Couples
Online from 1995-2022

Demian and Steve Bryant originally founded Partners as a monthly newsletter in 1986. By late 1990 it was reformatted into a bi-monthly magazine. Print publication was halted by 1995 when Demian published Partners as a Web site, which greatly expanded readership.

In 1988, the Partners National Survey of Lesbian & Gay Couples report was published; the first major U.S. survey on same-sex couples in a decade.

In 1996, Demian produced The Right to Marry, a video documentary based on the dire need for equality that was made clear by the data from the survey mentioned above. The video featured interviews with Rev. Mel White, Evan Wolfson, Phyllis Burke, Richard Mohr, Kevin Cathcart, Faygele benMiriam, Benjamin Cable-McCarthy, Susan Reardon, Frances Fuchs, Tina Podlodowski, and Chelle Mileur.

Demian has been the sole operator during the last two decades of Partners.

Demian stopped work on Partners Task Force in order to realize his other time-consuming projects, which include publishing the book “Operating Manual for Same-Sex Couples: Navigating the rules, rites & rights” - which is now available on Amazon. The book is based on the Partners Survey mentioned above, his interviews of scores of couples, and 36 years of writing hundreds of articles about same-sex couples. It’s also been informed by his personal experience in a 20-year, same-sex relationship.

Demian’s other project is to publish his “Photo Stories by Demian” books based on his more than six decades as a photographer and writer.


Partners Task Force for Gay & Lesbian Couples
Demian, director    206-935-1206    demian@buddybuddy.com    Seattle, WA    Founded 1986

Menu
Notable Events Legal Marriage Essays Legal Marriage Data Ceremonial Marriage Domestic Partnership
Legal Necessities Relationship Tips Immigration Couples Chronicles Parenting
Inspiration Orientation Basics Surveys Resource Lists Citation Information
Welcome (About) Your Host Copyright Policy Link Policies Search Site

Gnostic Christian Church
© 2002, Partners Task Force


The following sample marriage ceremony solemnizes a relationship.

While this may not be reproduced by any print or electronic means for distribution, permission to use this text is hereby given to individual same-sex couples for use in their personal commitment ceremonies.

Other than the key elements of the Blessings, Prayers, and Benediction celebrants may choose their own wording, vows, and order of service.

Gathering Words

By entering into this marriage [Name-1] and [Name-2] are stating publicly, the feelings and commitments they have held privately between them. They are proclaiming their love for, their trust in, and their loyalty to the one they cherish above all others.

Marriage is the most intimate of all relationships. It is the ultimate commitment to love, share, trust and grow with another person. It is the beginning of a whole new life.

Marriage has been described as living in love with your best friend. Love is one of the few constants in the Universe. It is reality, affinity, and communication. It is the true nature of God. Only love is capable of joining living beings by their deepest essence; uniting, and fulfilling them.

Marriage is a symbol of the commitment to create a lifelong partnership based on love.

Opening Prayer

Lord, behold our family here assembled.
We thank you for this place in which we dwell,
for the love that unites us,
for the peace accorded us this day,
for the hope with which we expect the morrow,
for the health, the work, the food,
and the bright skies that make our lives delightful;
for our friends in all parts of the earth.
Amen.

Wedding Prayer

God, omnipresent creator, of all seen and unseen, we ask that [Name-1] and [Name-2] recognize your blessing and perfect love reflected in one another.

We honor all you created as they pledge their hearts and lives together.
We honor mother-earth - and ask for their marriage to be abundant and grow stronger through the seasons;
We honor fire - and ask that their union be warm and glowing with love in their hearts;
We honor wind - and ask they sail though life safe and calm as in our father’s arms;
We honor water - to clean and soothe their relationship - that it may never thirst for love;
With all the forces of the universe you created, we pray for harmony and true happiness as they forever grow young together.

Support from Families

The Marriage of [Name-1] and [Name-2] is more than just the union of two people in love. It’s also the joining of two families, of two sets of friends, and of two patterns of life.

Who stands with [Name-1] in support and blessing of this marriage?

response:
“I do” (or “We do.”)

Who stands with [Name-2] in support and blessing of this marriage?

response:
“I do” (or “We do.”)

As these two people join together in marriage, they ask for the support and love of not only their families, but of their friends as well. On this day, they ask that you be more than only friends of [Name-1] or only friends of [Name-2]. They ask that you recognize their special union and welcome them both as friends in your lives.

Readings

“And Ruth said, ‘Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and they God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me and more also, if ought but death part thee from me.’”

(Old Testament: A reading from Ruth, Chapter 1, Verses 16 and 17.)

Song
[We suggest that a song of a spiritual nature be sung, rather than a pop or top 10-type song.]

“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment: That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

(New Testament: The Gospel According to St. John:)

Consent

[Name-1], do you come here today, in the presence of these witnesses, with love in your heart and with a conscious desire to be united in marriage with Hope? Do you promise to share the responsibility for growth and enrichment of your life together and give [Name-2] all the loving support she needs to become the person she is destined to be?

response:
“I do.”

[Name-2], do you come here today, in the presence of these witnesses, with love in your heart and with a conscious desire to be united in marriage with Hope? Do you promise to share the responsibility for growth and enrichment of your life together and give [Name-1] all the loving support she needs to become the person she is destined to be?

response:
“I do.”

Vows

From this day onward I choose you, [Name-2] to be my [partner, spouse, wife, husband].
To live together and laugh together;
To work by your side and dream in your arms;
To fill your heart and feed your soul;
To always seek out the best in you;
To play with you whenever I can, as we grow old;
Always loving you with all my heart, until the end of our forever.

The Promise

Do you [Name-1] promise to love and respect [Name-2], to share your life and your dreams, to build with [her/him] a home that is a place of love, happiness, commitment and growth?

response:
“I do.”

Do you promise to be a companion to [her/him] in all of [her/him] successes and failures, [her/him] happiness and sadness, to always give to [her/him] your unwavering support and above all else, the freedom to be [Name-2]?

response:
“I do.”

Do you [Name-2] promise to love and respect [Name-1], to share your life and your dreams, to build with her a home that is a place of love, happiness, commitment and growth?

response:
“I do.”

Do you promise to be a companion to [her/him] in all of [her/him] successes and failures, [her/him] happiness and sadness, to always give to [her/him] your unwavering support and above all else, the freedom to be [Name-1]?

response:
“I do.”

Rings

These rings are made of precious metals; purified by the heat of many fires. They are a symbol of the wealth that resides inside each of you and the purity of your love for one another. As you place the ring on [her/his] finger, please repeat after me:

With this ring I marry you and bind my life to yours.
It is a symbol of my eternal devotion, my everlasting friendship.
It is a promise of all my tomorrows.

Blessing

Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness,
For each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies,
But there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

Benediction

Therefore precious friends, choose this one day to be at perfect peace.
Bless all you see and see it as being within you.
Look out upon the innocence of the world And Bless it with the Radiance of Christ.
You are as you are created to be and cannot be apart from your Creator.
And your Creator is but love.
Therefore you are the thought of love in form.
Peace be unto you always.

congregation response:
AMEN

Pronouncement and Presentation

[Name-1] and [Name-2], you have each chosen to be joined in marriage today. The Gospel of Thomas states “If two make peace with each other in a single house, they will say to the mountain, ‘Move from here!’ and it will move.” Therefore, know that your joining brings forth great force and love in the Universe. Remember that your new nature reflects the true nature of God and Man; separate in appearance, joined in spirit, eternal and loving.

In my presence and in the presence of your family and friends, you have exchanged vows and made promises. You have opened your hearts to one another, declared your love and friendship, and have united yourself with the exchanging of rings.

Therefore, with the blessings of the Supreme Being, God, Universal Love, it is my pleasure to now pronounce you married.

You may now exchange the kiss of love and peace.

D’shaynoa!


This vow courtesy
Rev. Buck Bannister
Ancient Order of St. John & St. Sebastian


Return to: Vows: Marriage Ceremonies


Return to: Partners: Table of Contents

© 2022, Demian
None of the pages on this Web site may be reproduced by any form of reproduction without
permission from Partners, with the exception of copies for personal, student, and
non-commercial use. Please do not copy this article to any Web site.
Links to this page are welcome.