Marriage

Rev. Elder Darlene Garner and Rev. Candy Holmes met in church – Darlene, at the time a local pastor for Metropolitan Community Church of Northern Virginia, and Rev. Candy, a gospel choir director at Metropolitan Community Church of Washington DC. “Our paths crossed often until one day our hearts met. We say of our life together that our hearts have journeyed together for a long time -- from 1996 to being happily married now.

Eric A. Manríquez and Juan Rivera were married in California in 2008 with a reception at the home of Christine Chávez, granddaughter of Cesar Chavez. Juan Rivera is undocumented and because of DOMA and federal immigration laws, Eric cannot sponsor him for U.S. permanent legal residency like straight couples can. Though they would love to adopt a child, the uncertainty around Juan's legal status caused by lack of federal protections as a gay couple and because of an unjust immigration system prevents the couple from doing that.

Lavi Soloway came to the United States from Canada in 1989 to study law. His personal and professional life soon led him to build a national grassroots movement at the intersection of two high-profile political issues: marriage equality for lesbian and gay couples and immigration reform. A partner in the New York/Los Angeles law firm of Masliah & Soloway, his work includes all matters of family and employment-based immigration, citizenship, representation of asylum applicants and defense of individuals threatened with deportation.