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How to Attend a Gay Wedding
Spring is the season for matrimony, both hetero- and homosexual, and this could be the year that you receive your first gay wedding invitation. One big polarizing issue for Americans right now is same-sex marriage. Some insist if gays are allowed to marry it would cheapen the
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institution of heterosexual marriage. For others, the only question is what to wear. Here in New Mexico, with or without an ultra-conservative DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act), gay New Mexicans still can't officially marry. This leaves marriage-minded same-sex couples with two options: Either get hitched in Massachusetts or go to Vermont to get a civil union license. These solutions, however, are complicated for New Mexicans since you've got to live in those states to enjoy the full benefits. In place of marriage, many couples are opting for "commitment ceremonies," which have no legal ramifications but are a way to express lifelong devotion in front of friends and family.
Do it yourself:
The toughest part of attending such a ceremony is finding the appropriate card. You may have to buy one of those "blank on the inside" cards and fill it out yourself, which could take some effort for the literally challenged among us. Also, bring plenty of Kleenex, as ceremonies of this ilk can be emotional affairs. Basically, since same-sex unions are non-traditional events by definition, the burden is on the couple to decide the specifics involved with attending. But, mainly, don't dress like you're going to the bar!
