Three couples say their 'I do's' during Pride weekend

BY SHARON GITTLEMAN
FERNDALE – Suzanne McNeil and Wanda Durland's lifelong love affair seems to have been written in the stars. The couple met when Durland was 11 and McNeil was just 13.
"We fell in love on a baseball field," said McNeil. "I went to catch a foul ball and I accidentally knocked her down."
McNeil said the pair fell in love at first sight.
"I didn't drop the ball," she said, laughing. "I caught it and then helped her up."
The couple has enjoyed thirty-two years of loving companionship, said McNeil. Last year they were married outside Ferndale city hall, while watching other couples say their "I do's."
"She surprised me," said Durland. "When the time came for the vows, she just took my hand and asked me if I wanted to do it."
This year they were among the guests at the LGBT commitment ceremony celebration, held on June 4. From their spot on the lawn at Ferndale's city hall, they heard the Rev. Mark Bidwell, senior pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit, conduct the ceremony, Ferndale Mayor Robert Porter speak at the event and three couples publicly proclaim their love for each other.
Cindy Clardy's eyes filled with tears as she spoke of how her love grew for her partner Jocelyn Walters, 55, over the past six years.
"It was just a feeling," said Clardy, 55.
Their commitment developed when Clardy broke both feet and Walters devoted herself to helping her, Clardy said.
Clardy said she'd like to thank the American Family Association for inspiring her to come to Ferndale for the ceremony at city hall.
"If it weren't for their 'boycott Ford' web page, I wouldn't have known about this," she said.
On their original "boycott Ford" website – http://www.boycottford.com – the AFA warned readers that "Ford Motor Company Supports the Homosexual Marriage Movement," adding that people would be "hard-pressed" to find a company that has done more to "affirm and promote the homosexual lifestyle."
However, an AFA update reassures webpage readers that after talking to some Ford dealers, the organization decided to suspend the boycott until Dec. 1, 2005. According to the website, the dealers asked for time to see if they could address "the concerns" raised by the AFA "in cooperation with officials from Ford Motor Company."
While the AFA and the unnamed dealers decide how to discourage loving couples from marrying, the mayor of Ferndale said he appeared at the ceremony to show his support for family values.
"It's not my job to be the bedroom controller," said Porter. "This is taking members of the gay community and allowing them to make commitments to each other."
Porter said he thought gay people deserve the same rights and legal protections everyone else enjoys.
Bidwell would seem to agree. So far, he said he's married 85 gay couples at his Ferndale church.
"We want to continue to remind people we're here and we're not going away," he said.
Bidwell told the small crowd of couples, friends and family members at the Ferndale ceremony that they were brought together by one emotion.
"Today, we celebrate love, a love that isn't recognized legally but is recognized by God," he said. "We gather here today to honor that love by asking God to bless it."
Following an opening prayer led by Bidwell, Porter asked the couples to make their vows to each other. Bible readings, a homily and the blessing and exchange of rings concluded the ceremony.
"For as much as you have committed yourselves to each other and in token have given and received rings, by the authority vested in me as a minister of Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit," said Bidwell.
He turned to Porter at the dais.
"Though not by the power vested in me as the Mayor of the city of Ferndale, but by the power of your love and commitment to each other," said Porter.
The pair continued, speaking in unison.
"We recognize you as joined in Holy Matrimony," they said.
Letitia Spikes, 28, said she decided to publicly declare her vows to her partner Tawana Williams, 32, for one reason.
"Real love," she said.
Sephanie Newman, 30, explained her decision to wed her bride Kim Harris, 26, at city hall.
"We want to show the world we're in love with each other," she said.
Jeff Montgomery, executive director of the Triangle Foundation attended the ceremony.
"This act, in addition to being a significant act of love, is a political statement," said Montgomery. "The anti-gay industry is in trouble."