Last month we reported that Arizonans Oscar De Las Salas and Gary Jackson were holding a wedding ceremony in Centennial Park in Coronado, California when it was interrupted by a man in a nearby building shouting "go home fags" and other anti-gay slurs.
The incident prompted an apology from the city of Coronado and the condo complex's Home Owner's Association as well as an investigation by police.
Now, residents and merchants in Coronado are throwing the couple a "do-over" wedding, the San Diego Union Tribune reports:
The goal of the second ceremony is giving the couple a more positive experience and showing that Coronado is a welcoming community where discrimination won't be tolerated.
“The people of Coronado, who said they wouldn't tolerate what happened to us, have created a happy ending,” said Oscar de Las Salas, who will marry Gary Jackson again next week. “We never expected this. It's incredible.”
The "do-over" wedding was led by four young women who were horrified by the incident and the effort has snowballed, the paper reports, throwing the couple a wedding that would normally cost between $15,000 and $20,000:
Loews Coronado Bay Resort donated a 300-seat venue, Coronado's Blue Bridge Hospitality restaurant chain will supply the food, Coronado Cupcakery is handling the wedding cake and Vigilucci's Ristorante contributed champagne for the toast, Kerr said. Many other local restaurants and merchants have also made contributions, she said.
Coronado residents are determined to show that their town is one that is welcoming to LGBT people. The police investigation is continuing.
