Provincetown Reacts To Supreme Court’s Ruling Of Gay Marriage
The people of Provincetown have been reacting to the news of the Supreme Court’s ruling on allowing gay marriage in 50 of the United States. The New England town located at the tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Mass., is not only known for its beaches, but also for its vacation hot spot for the LGBT community. People often refer it as “gay Provincetown” or “P-town” for short.
The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of gay marriage today in Washington. That means all 50 states will start issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples. This comes 11 years after Massachusetts legalized gay marriage. In fact, Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage.
The community of Provincetown has been reacting to the news today. Sarah Carpenter, Vice President of the Cape Cod chapter of PFLAG, an organization that helps the LGBT community and their families, shared her reaction. Carpenter was spending time in Provincetown after the announcement was made on Friday morning, and felt a sense of pride for her country.
“Everyone was smiling. There were people clapping. There were people hugging. Some of them were actually dancing in the street. Cars were stuck, they couldn’t even move. Every where you went there was a buzz of conversation. So upbeat. So happy…It was a long time coming and a lot of people have struggled to wait for this decision. It was a celebratory morning, and it hasn’t really shown any signs of subsiding.”
Carpenter says that Friday is not only a historic day for the gay community, but for the transgender community as well. Carpenter, who transitioned from male to female in 2005, said that the courts would not allow her to marry a man because her birth certificate identifies her as a male.
“I was very happy because it’s a great step not just for gays and lesbians, but the transgender community. Something that gets lost in the discussion is that transgender men and women also take part in same-sex marriages. So this is a huge step for the entire community.”
Mickey Evans and his husband Reggie Boyer wed in Provincetown, Massachusetts, back in 2011. Today, they stood outside the Supreme Court to hear the gay marriage ruling. Evans said, “This changes everything.” Boyer added, “Our marriage is recognized.”
Ally Hirschlag, contributor of SheKnows, adds that although she’s “in a heterosexual relationship,” the gay marriage ruling greatly affects her since she grew up in Provincetown along with her family.
“The gay community was always very present up there, and since Massachusetts was one of the first states to legalize gay marriage, it has only grown stronger. A huge part of why the place is so magical is because of the overwhelming feeling of love and acceptance that exists there. It’s why my fiancé proposed to me on its beach, and why we’re getting married there next September.”
“I can only hope that this nationwide decision will encourage other like-minded communities to flourish across the country in a way they never could before. Love between two people is one of the most powerful things, and this monumental proclamation means there will be more of it everywhere. It’s a rare thing to get to say, especially in relation to the judicial court, but today, love really does win.”
Hirschlag also noted that today “is the first day in a long while that I’ve felt proud to be an American.”
Hillary Rodham Clinton will be visiting Provincetown soon. There, she will attend a fundraiser hosted by event planner Bryan Rafanelli and gay rights activist Alix Ritchie. The event is just one of the many fundraisers that Clinton will take part in as she visits Massachusetts in the month of July.
This comes right on time for Clinton, as she has spoken out in support of gay marriage and gay rights. She also changed her Twitter and Facebook avatars into a gay rights rainbow after the Supreme Court’s marriage ruling. In addition, Clinton issued a statement and called the court’s ruling “an affirmation of the commitment of couples across the country who love one another.” The 2016 presidential candidate will also sell a variety of “Hillary” items and merchandise to honor June’s Gay Pride Month.
Provincetown will be celebrating the Supreme Court’s gay marriage ruling along with Gay Pride Month all weekend long, according to a televised WHDH-TV 7 report.
[Image: William B. Plowman/Getty Images]
