BRYN MAWRTERS STAGE "MARRY-IN" TO SUPPORT GAY RIGHTS

Emily Teel '04 and Amanda Dougherty '07 recite vows as part of the circle

On Wednesday, April 21, about 25 Bryn Mawr students participated in a "marry-in" on Merion Green in which they affirmed their commitment to the proposition that marriage should be available to all people regardless of gender or sexual orientation. The marry-in was organized by Rainbow Alliance as part of the National Day of Silence, a nationwide student action that protests discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people.

Students who participated in the day of silence took a nine-hour vow of silence "in protest of the silence and suffering endured by lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people as a result of harassment and discrimination," said Rainbow Alliance President Kathryn McMahon. Participants dressed in black to make themselves visible and carried cards, provided by Rainbow Alliance, that explained their silence to others. "One of the things pointed out on the card is that even on this very tolerant campus homophobia still silences people," McMahon said.

At 4 p.m., participants broke the silence with the marry-in. The group met at Taylor Hall and progressed to the green, serenaded to the tune of "Going to the Chapel" by Lavender's Blues, a campus a cappella group. Equipped with candy ring-pops, the group formed a circle on the green. Promise Partner '04 initiated the ceremony by turning to Jessica Knapp '04, who stood at her left. Reading from a slip of paper provided by event organizers, Partner asked, "Do you, Jessica Knapp, affirm that marriage is the legal right of all regardless of their gender or sexuality?" After responding, "I do" and receiving a ring-pop, Knapp addressed the question to the student at her left.

Questions progressed clockwise around the circle to Emily Teel '04, who said her "I do," to the question posed by Amanda Dougherty '07, but lacked a copy of the vow to read to the student on her left. "Do you mind if I borrow this?" Teel asked Dougherty. "I want to use it on someone else." When the circle was complete, the students raised a college cheer for equal rights and celebrated with a modest "wedding reception" on the steps of the Campus Center.

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