By BTL Staff
The 2015 Ultimate LGBT Wedding and Anniversary Expo March 21 at the Southfield Civic Pavilion comes at a historic crossroad. As we celebrate momentous progress for marriage equality, here in Michigan we watch and wait for a decision from the highest court that could grant full marriage rights to same-sex couples nationwide.
The anticipation is palpable. The U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to legalize same-sex marriage in the case that encompasses Michigan's DeBoer v Snyder lawsuit along with cases in Ohio, Tennessee and Kentucky. Their decision, expected this June, will determine the fate of millions of loving, same-sex couples. To help support that legal challenge, BTL is waiving the entrance fee to the expo and instead asking attendees to make a donation to the National Marriage Challenge, the group supporting the attorneys in the DeBoer case.
The Ultimate Wedding and Anniversary on Live in the D this morning on WDIV
This year's expo falls exactly on the one year anniversary of U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman's sweeping decision declaring Michigan's marriage ban unconstitutional. On March 22, 2014, the day after he handed down his ruling, over 300 same-sex couples were legally married in four Michigan counties. The expo celebrates this historic occasion by throwing an Anniversary Party, complete with cake, singing and a toast to the same-sex couples now legally married in Michigan, those still waiting to marry or those waiting for their marriages to finally be recognized.
Sarah Warbelow, the Human Rights Campaign's legal director, said the Supreme Court, "has telegraphed there is virtually zero risk that they will issue an anti-equality ruling this summer." She added that couples in Michigan and the other 12 states where same-sex marriage is banned should "start your wedding plans now."
The Fifth Annual Ultimate LGBT Wedding and Anniversary Expo is the perfect place to do just that on March 21! With over 100 vendors in every wedding category, couples can do one-stop shopping for everything they need. These are the companies that "get it" — that want the same-sex wedding industry to flourish in Michigan because it is the right thing to do, and because it will have a profoundly positive effect on our state's economy.
"The businesses represented at the expo are affirmatively LGBT-friendly," said event organizer and BTL co-publisher Jan Stevenson. "No one has to worry about a negative reaction when they shop for wedding rings, or gowns and tuxes, and they don't have to wonder if the caterer is homophobic. That negative stress is completely removed from the conversation at this expo."
The expo kicks off at 12:30 p.m. with a fully catered champagne brunch provided by Jeff Zak Catering in Plymouth. Barefoot Wine & Bubbly is providing the champagne for the mimosas — but don't dawdle. The brunch will serve the first 200 people to arrive, ending at 2 p.m.
Then comes the Fabulous Fashion Show at 2 p.m., with gowns from B. Ella Bridal in Plymouth and tuxedos and other formal wear from The Tux Shop in Birmingham. Modeling the beautiful clothes will be heroes and heroines of the movement including Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown; State Reps. Kristy Pagan, Jeremy Moss and Jon Hoadley; political candidates Ken Siver and Brian Stone; and community activists Emily Dievendorf, Kevin Heard, Alicia Skillman, Tashi Acket, David Nelson, Austin Williams, Ramon Harris and Ethan Best. The models will be assisted by bridesmaids on skates: members of the Detroit Derby Girls roller derby team!
What's an anniversary party without a cake? Sweet Dreams Bakery is providing a delicious and fabulous Anniversary Cake to kick off the dance party at 3 p.m. Singers from Motif will "rev it up" while the Argentine Salsa Dancers give demonstrations and even a quick lesson for the adventurous and light-footed among us.
The expo is a great way to celebrate our victories, prepare for the next phase of the struggle and to thank the businesses that already support us by shopping for the perfect ring, venue, cake, limo service, flowers, invitations, gowns and tuxes, officiant or church, photographer, event planner, wedding band, honeymoon destination and more.
The Ultimate LGBT Wedding and Anniversary Expo is March 21. The Expo opens at 12:30 p.m. and runs to 4 p.m. A pre-Expo workshop from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. titled "The Case, Its Impact, The Future" is presented by Wayne State Law Professor Robert Sedler. Comerica Bank is also presenting a workshop from 1:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. titled "My Family, Our Money." For more information, go to http://www.BTLWeddingExpo.com.
