09/18/2006
Two Air Force Privates Wed in Seville, Spain
In June, we heard news that two Spanish Air Force Privates were to be the first same-sex members of Spain's military to be married. Well, the ceremony happened on Friday in front of 100 people in Seville and it looks like it was a major celebration. It also looks as if the two soldiers couldn't keep their lips off of one another. Bravo to that!
From the SF Chronicle: "Alberto Linero, 27, and Alberto Sanchez, 24, both privates in the air force, wore dark blue dress uniforms with red and gold epaulets as they exchanged vows in a reception room at Seville's town hall."
The couple was married by Seville's mayor, Alfredo Sanchez Monteseirin, who recognized the significance of the union he was about to make legal.
Said Sanchez Monteseirin: "This is not just your wedding. You symbolize millions of people who are not here and suffer from homophobia. The city will protect your rights."
So here we have a country where gays are allowed to serve openly in the military and have full marriage rights. May it be a model for the world to follow. Congratulations to the happy couple.
Said Linero to reporters: "We've done our little bit. We hope society realizes this."
2 Male Spanish Air Force Privates Wed [ap]
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Posted 8:30 AM EST by Andy Towle in Gay Marriage, Military, Spain | Permalink
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Mazeltov! What a great story and pictures.
Posted by: Brian | Sep 18, 2006 9:03:13 AM
How much for a nice apartment in Spain?
Mazel Tov! Such nice boys.
Posted by: Crixi Van Cheek | Sep 18, 2006 9:06:35 AM
congrats to them
Spain has come a long way in the past year.
not only did Spain recgonize gay marriage, it is also trying to reform their school system which is heavily controled/influenced by the catholic church. They are also trying to revoke the government stipend to catholic churches. In Spain the Catholic churches get welfare checks basicaly for just existing. The government pays them a tax.
Spain has surely come a long way.
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Sep 18, 2006 9:22:35 AM
Best wishes to the brave and happy couple!
Posted by: savvyplanners.com | Sep 18, 2006 10:12:36 AM
Sure, congratulations to them for a happy relationship and recognition by the government. However, maybe it's a little premature to say Spain has come along way? I tend to think there might still be a majority who don't embrace what they did as a part of their culture. I think when regular intervals of random polling show indifference or acceptance to the issue then Spain will have come a long way. After all, I'm sure they are only a fag bash away from having people say Spain is a back water repressive place.
Posted by: Scott A | Sep 18, 2006 10:18:45 AM
Scott A
A bit of reserve before having a celebration is a good bit of wisdom
BUT
I do find it ironic that I feel optimistic while someone else is more cynical than me. LOL Someone more cynical than me is impossible, I once thought.
:-)
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Sep 18, 2006 10:23:02 AM
good for them!!
Posted by: hoya86 | Sep 18, 2006 10:48:39 AM
Scott A, who cares if the mainstream doesn't support their marriage? I don't think most of the hetero couples out here should be married and Procreating, but I don't have a say, and it's really none of my business. I'm not looking for anyone to okay my relationship, or say who I can or can't marry. I'm just looking to have the same rights as everyone else, which these men have.
Posted by: Cadence | Sep 18, 2006 10:53:55 AM
Marriage is boring.
Posted by: gwyneth cornrow | Sep 18, 2006 10:57:32 AM
Thanks for the great coverage, Andy! My straight boss and his wife just came back from the wedding of their daughter's godfather in Vancouver, who moved their from the US to live legally and fully with his Canadian citizen partner. And while I won't particularly miss him, the former editor of the "Washington Blade" et al. is moving to South America to be with his partner who cannot immigrate here. Add to that the headline "US holds 14,000 in war prisons worldwide," and I am reminded more than I have been in a long time of the famous statement by Albert Camus: "I should like to be able to love my country and still love justice." Quelle triste.
Posted by: Leland | Sep 18, 2006 11:03:01 AM
"who moved THERE"...it's still early on the left coast....
Posted by: Leland | Sep 18, 2006 11:05:44 AM
@Cadence
I was talking about whether or not it's premature to say Spain has become more socially progressive i.e. "come along way". I think it might be better to judge a country's progression by an average citizen and not it's laws per se. Think about segregation laws and the abolishment of them. Just because civil rights legislation came out in the 60's didn't mean that the general public were ready to embrace it right? It took a little while after those laws were in place before mainstream ideas started to change. It all relates back to how you choose to judge a country's progression. But yea, I'd agree with you if we were talking about equal rights and the pursuit of happiness.
@Jimmyboyo
I only wish I was always so cautious and articulate; fact is, I'm somewhat of brash klutz but thanks haha.. x-p
Posted by: Scott A | Sep 18, 2006 11:19:51 AM
Wow, from the land that brought us The Inquisition to this. Good luck to the happy couple.
Meanwhile, here in Ohio, I went to a family reunion on Saturday. As my partner and I pulled into the driveway of my cousin's house, we spotted the sign at the end of the drive requesting that we "Protect Marriage...One man and one woman." Not exactly the best welcome to a reunion.
Posted by: Bill | Sep 18, 2006 11:54:07 AM
They can't stop kissing (very sexy). Best of luck to them.
Posted by: Jack | Sep 18, 2006 1:04:52 PM
Happy you have a partner, Bill, and both of you went to the reunion [unlike two-faced new "Washington Blade" editor Kevin Naff who wrote of leaving his partner at home sometimes to avoid upsetting homophobic relatives]. But, assuming you did not express your objection to the sign to your relatives, I encourage you to drive back there tonight and "accidentally" run over it. While your and your partner's presence was crucial "symbolic speech," silence about the sign only reinforces to those who put it up that you think you don't deserve more.
Posted by: Leland | Sep 18, 2006 1:37:30 PM
Scott A, I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at. Every poll that I've seen from Spain indicates that a two to one majority of Spaniards support marriage equality for gays and lesbians.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_Spain
So 61-66% of Spaniards support marriage equality. I'm not sure what level of support one should expect from a country before its OK to call them socially progressive.
I for one would consider any country socially progressive that has 2/3 of its population supporting marriage equality; especially when that country's population is overwhelmingly Catholic and was once home to the Inquisition.
Posted by: Zeke | Sep 18, 2006 10:36:06 PM
Here's the bottom line: in Spain you're
legally allowed to, regardless of your personal opinion on the utility of marriage, and regardless of whether you care to have that right. Spain's recognition that fundamental human rights belong to all humans is hugely symbolic especially because Spain is perceived to be
so conservative and catholic. Pity that countries touted as so progressive don't
follow their example.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d8LoJoHLq4
Jake says, 'It cant come quickly enough.'
Posted by: bugsy | Sep 19, 2006 12:08:45 AM
So sweet (applause)
Posted by: WTF | Sep 19, 2006 5:43:02 AM
Congrats to the wonderful, happy couple!!
And to Scott A-- hey, at least Spain has the right idea. Now, forget getting married in this country-- I can't even get domestic-partner benefits at my company for my partner. (Yes, I know, go work for another company, but I just moved to this red state four months ago and I needed a job.)
Come on, USA, wake the fuck up and give us our rights!! BRAVO SPAIN!
Posted by: devilgirl | Sep 19, 2006 7:11:41 PM
What a great, progressive event in Spain! I actually just came back to the US after studying in Seville, Spain for 6 months and had many discussions with the family I lived with and my professors about current politics in Spain. President Zapatero is a great leader who has enacted so many pro gay, pro women, and separation of church and school laws. Although there is definitley backlash from traditional, Catholic Spaniards, there is an immense divide between the younger generation and their parents. Because the youth did not grow up with the theocratic dictatorship of Franco they have very progressive views on gay rights, women's rights, and religion. Spain's social views are changing in a huge way and they will only improve. Let's hope the US learns from them!
Posted by: JSCT | Sep 19, 2006 7:13:22 PM
good for them...
they are sooo beautiful..
Posted by: iker | Sep 19, 2006 9:01:06 PM
OMG, I think I'm gonna cry! That is just so wonderful! What a touching thing for the mayor to say. I just wish that more people would accept the love and commitment that two men can have for each other (and women too). Whether or not you want to be married, evryone should have the right to have their relationship socially validated.
Posted by: Charlie | Sep 20, 2006 3:52:28 AM
Anyone else think it's weird that the guy on the left can't seem to close his eyes while kissing?
Posted by: Ryan | Sep 24, 2006 2:02:46 PM
God I wish that could happen here!
Posted by: duane | Sep 25, 2006 3:44:29 PM
I am ultimately delighted for their decision!!! As a Professor in leading colleges and universities, I have always been pro-human rights and approached the matter of sexual orientation from the realistic, factual standpoint of GENES, characteristic determiners of everything about us from the color of our eyes to sexual orientation...thus, it is simply NOT and issue...ALL are human beings with the same potential and greatness!!!..Intelligence and personal goodness are hallmarks of all humans who do not intentionally, willfully, consciously say nor do anything to hurt themselves or someone else!!!
Posted by: Prof. Bruce | Oct 17, 2006 7:01:19 PM