12/07/2005
Britain's First Gay "Marriage" a Bittersweet Achievement
England gave the go-ahead for the first civil partnership on Monday at the request of a terminally ill cancer patient who feared he would not live to see December 21st, the official date on which ceremonies can take place. Matthew Roche, a 46-year-old with lung cancer, and his partner Christopher Cramp, held their partnership hours after the first registrations took effect.
Roche died the next day, surrounded by friends and family.
Roche said after the ceremony, "I really, really needed to get married and we are very lucky indeed to be given the opportunity. Chris and I have always wanted to do this - it is just a shame that I have been taken so early."
The couple had been together for seven years.
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 9:33 AM EST by Andy in Gay Marriage | Permalink
Like it?
Subscribe to FREE Towleroad daily headlines with our RSS feed!
RECENT STORIES:
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
I don't know what to say to this. On the one hand, I'm happy that Roche was allowed to fulfill a wish of his. On the other hand, something about this situation makes me want to cry.
Posted by: Eric | Dec 7, 2005 9:39:26 AM
wow.
Posted by: CriticalRN | Dec 7, 2005 9:40:49 AM
I agree with Eric I am not sure I can find the words. Tears came to my eyes. Love finds a way.
Posted by: Donald | Dec 7, 2005 9:47:54 AM
What a sad but beautiful story. If only it could have happened here.
Posted by: Brian | Dec 7, 2005 9:54:17 AM
Godspeed, Matthew.
Posted by: Blair | Dec 7, 2005 10:21:57 AM
That's so sad, but at the same time I'm so happy that Cramp won't have to live the rest of his life regretting that he was unable to marry the man he loved. I hope it's giving him some piece of mind.
Posted by: MT | Dec 7, 2005 10:48:38 AM
Aiy! I just finished reading Brokeback Mountain, and after reading this, I started to tear up again. But I have to agree with Brian, this is a sad but beautiful story.
Posted by: christian | Dec 7, 2005 10:59:36 AM
I think it's a really beautiful way to go. Think of how happy he was in his last moments... peace.
Posted by: ryan | Dec 7, 2005 1:55:47 PM
tears.
Posted by: basis4insanity | Dec 7, 2005 2:10:25 PM
I find it amazing that, for once, a country allowed itself to be human, too.
Posted by: Jubal | Dec 7, 2005 2:11:34 PM
I think it's wonderful that these guys got to have their dream fulfilled. Sad that it didn't last long, but they achieved their goal, and that's what counts. Their actual marriage was official long before it was legal, and their union will last, long after they are gone.
Love can't be erased by death, time, or fluctuations in the stock market. It can't be legalized, unionized, or homogenized. If you need a legal document to prove your commitment, you're not in love. For Gay men and women, a marriage license is a nice trophy, and it's a powerful political statement, but it's no substitute for the real thing. The real marriage is in our hearts, and the government can't give that to us, or take it away from us.
Christopher is now left with proof that he had a legally sanctioned relationship with Matthew for one day. What he lost, can never be explained on a legal document.
Posted by: Jay Croce | Dec 8, 2005 3:30:55 AM
Why is it that only UGLY gays get "married"?
Posted by: Larry | Dec 8, 2005 5:11:32 PM
My handlers will not allow me to marry...
When my predecessor tried to marry me JP2 was 'put to sleep' to prevent the marriage from happening.
As long as i have first crack at those young choir boys... my handlers and the government can do as they please.
It would've been marvelous to have been allowed to marry JP2... but i digress.
Posted by: HisHolynessDPope | Dec 10, 2005 12:54:43 AM