New York Daily Photo Analytics

Monday, July 25, 2011

Just Married


I had intended to travel to City Hall on Sunday morning to witness and photograph New York's first day of legal same-sex marriage. However, my reluctance to set out early morning to brave another day of heat and humidity prevented me from doing so.

Late at night, before returning home, I was alerted by a friend that one gay couple that had been married was lingering in Washington Square Park. How fortuitous - part of the event had come to me.
I sprinted over to the couple and congratulated them. I learned that Sas Velez, 49 and Mery Napoles, 47, were the last couple to be married - something that garnered media attention. Sas showed me their ticket, numbered 685.

The couple currently lives in New Jersey. Sas, who hails from Brooklyn, and Mery, born in Cuba, were previously married in Massachusetts but felt that they wanted to do this in New York City - a place they both feel is their spiritual home and where they work.
They were a warm, wonderful couple and were happy to accommodate my request for photos, answer any questions I asked about details of their relationship, and allow me to make them public.

Mery (in the wedding dress) has 4 children by a previous marriage - Catherine, Amanda, Kristen and Evan. This was a marriage with full openness regarding Mery's sexual orientation. She never had an intimate relationship with a woman until age 40, when she met Sas.

This was a watershed event for gay couples, which was a long time coming. I understand that there were some naysayers at the event, brandishing signs that read "God Cannot Be Mocked." These, however, are becoming the lone voices in a rapidly changing world.

Before leaving, I asked Sas for their full names and email addresses. When she had completed writing, I noticed that only one email address had been given (Sas's). As I began to ask for Mery's, Sas gestured with her finger pointing back and forth to both of them while saying that perhaps I did not need both emails, since they were together. Ah, yes, for a moment I had forgotten - they were an item now, since they had Just Married…

Related Posts: Vigil, No Red Faces, Buddies, Pride March, Gay Liberation Monument, Rubyfruit Bar and Grill

8 comments:

Leslie said...

Congratulations Mery & Sas!!! You look SO beautiful on your wedding day!

Brian, I'm really glad you are able to feature this historic event, and add a bit of special energy to their most memorable celebration!

Stefan Jansson said...

Congrats to the happy couple.

Tamera said...

Oh they all look so happy! Lucky you for getting to document this special day for them. I'm so grateful that the world is finally coming to understand that everyone deserves this kind of happiness.

Charlestonjoan said...

What a happy day for so many people! Congrats to the newlyweds :)

Oakland Daily Photo said...

May they always feel as happy as they are today.

nyc photographer said...

Happy to see that both of your dreams come true. Well good luck to your new life as a husband and wife. O should i say Wife and wife. Lol just kidding. :)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to this lucky couple! In another note, Brian, with all due respect, I'm just amazed as how easy is for you to ask personal questions to completely strangers. How do you do it?

abrazos,
Maricarmen

Anuska said...

Felicidades! Desde España...
Congratulations! From Spain...
Viva la Libertad en el Amor!
Hurray for Freedom in Love!