ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Love is in the air. Nestled in the heart of downtown Rochester, the First Universalist Church has undergone a quick makeover in order to accommodate several LGBTQIA+ weddings in the span of four hours.


What You Need To Know

  • The First Universalist Church worked in collaboration with First Unitarian and The Unitarian Universalist Church of Canandaigua to host the event- ‘BIG, GAY WEDDING'

  • Organizers recognized that many local LGBTQIA+ couples have felt a sense of urgency to get married before January 20, when President-elect Donald Trump starts his second term 

  • Hurried couples are trying to accommodate a wedding on a timeline they were not planning on, with ceremonies and celebrations free of charge

“I'm really surprised and pleased how many people came to celebrate,” Unitarian Universalist Church of Canandaigua minister Eileen Casey-Campbell said. “I know we've had a number of couples who signed up in advance and then hopefully we'll have some couples who show up and just want to get married on the spot.”

Officiating weddings for couples like Caliana and Angeles Rolon Torres, the First Universalist Church worked in collaboration with First Unitarian and The Unitarian Universalist Church of Canandaigua to host the ‘BIG, GAY WEDDING’ event. 

“I still kind of can't believe it, but here we are,” participant Caliana said. “And I'm, you know, happy and confident in that decision. And I didn't think I would ever be [married].”

“Growing our relationship to a level of like, you know, I do want this commitment with you,” Angeles added. “If you want to have that with me.”

Meeting three years ago, Caliana and Angeles never pictured a wedding in the books for themselves, but were eager to officially tie the knot, as of recently.

“Headlines and state legislatures are looking to repeal same sex marriage and marriage equality,” Unitarian Church of Rochester lead minister Shari Halliday-Quan said. “We thought, great. One of the things churches do really well is rites of passage like weddings. And so that's the thing that we, the Unitarian Universalist congregations, can offer.”

Organizers recognized many local LGBTQIA+ couples have felt a sense of urgency to get married before Jan. 20, when President-elect Donald Trump starts his second term in office. 

“It is important that we are doing it now and support for queer and trans people is something that's going to be required over the long haul,” Quam said. “We know that with the upcoming administration there will be threats and changes to trans people, but that's not all going to happen. And so the more we can do in these first couple of months, the better.”

Accommodating a wedding on a timeline many were not originally planning on, with ceremonies and celebration activities free of charge. 

“Listening to what we're going to have to repeat our vows just all-in-all, it was very emotional,” Angeles said. “I'm very happy for the multiple choices that we got to choose, one that really resonated with us.”

With feelings of uncertainty couples face in the world right now, the one thing that is certain is their love.