The Pioneer Times

Issue date: 3/6/07 Section: News

More than 40 people showed up for the Open Marriage Ceremony, sponsored by the gay-straight alliance group Chosen and the Feminist Collective's, which took place on Feb. 15 in the Atrium.

The event, which occurred during Common Hour, was in celebration of the instatement of New Jersey's new same-sex couple civil-union law that allows same-sex couples the same state benefits and rights granted to married couples, such as adoption, medical decision-making, child custody and hospital visitation.

Sixteen couples were "married," including Jack Plunkett, William Paterson Broadcast Network club president, and Jeff Heimbuch, Student Film Association club president.

Christiam Fajardo, the president of Chosen, said the event was "more successful than I had anticipated." He added, "If the opportunity arose I would definitely do this event again. It had a political edge as well as an entertainment factor."

An after-party was held in the Friends Lounge of the Cheng Library, where refreshments were served.

The main idea behind the event was to bring the positives of gay marriage out for all to see. Fajardo said, "Love and marriage are something that every human being is entitled to no matter what their sexual orientation. To me personally, what matters is that gay couples as well as heterosexual couples get the same rights and treatment, not whether it's called marriage or civil union."

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