Stephanie Duarte
Assistant Editor
Jonathan Serret whistled the wedding song as students meandered the Quad between classes on Monday.
The Rainbow Alliance president was hoping to entice passersby to get metaphorically married for only $5.
A two-year member of Rainbow Alliance, Serret said that the club has wanted to show their support for gay marriage for quite some time.
They decided that the day before Election Day would be the perfect time.
“It’s not just for gays. Our marriage booth is for anyone who wants to get married, show their love for one another and show that they care,” Serret said.
“It’s not limited to students either,” he added. “Faculty members are welcome to renew their vows.”
Michael Ramsey, member of Rainbow Alliance and boyfriend of its vice president, Renee Soliz, said he was looking forward to his wedding at noon.
“We’ve been together for over a year, but I definitely want to be out of college before I really get married,” said Ramsey, who wore his tux and tennis shoes for the occasion.
Included with each $5 marriage package were rings, a handmade photo keepsake and mints.
Participants could also use a bouquet of flowers, bowties, cummerbund and bridal veil during the ceremony.
Optional goodies included condoms wrapped in cupcake wrappers and informational packets regarding alternative lifestyles.
Carolyn Titus, freshman communications major, was one lucky bride.
She married her boyfriend of a year and a half, John Danielson, a freshman music major at Mt. San Antonio College.
“I saw a flier at the counseling center and decided to check it out,” Titus said.
Accompanying Titus as the “maid of horror” was freshman journalism student Lili Cabello.
Serret, in his six-inch stiletto heels and a judge’s gown, presided over the ceremony.
Despite forgetting on which hand to place the ring, the wedding went smoothly.
“This is the best day of my life,” said newlywed Titus. “It was really awesome. I’ve been looking forward to this day.”
Titus said that their honeymoon would consist of “going to Davenport and getting a really spectacular meal.”
Eva Hinojoza and Britney Conner kicked off the day of metaphorical matrimony.
“We predicted that only guys and girls would marry, so we figured we’d marry each other,” Hinojoza said. “And if I had to marry a girl, I’d marry Britney. She’s my friend.”
Other students got married on a whim of fate.
“It’s actually a funny story, because my boyfriend, Mike, and I were at a wedding last night and I caught the bouquet,” Soliz said.
“We’re getting married to show our support of Rainbow Alliance. Besides, this will happen in the future anyway,” she added.
The event successfully helped to raise awareness of homosexuality issues.
“There’s always one person at every event who will come to discuss the issue of homosexuality,” Soliz said.
“We always welcome people with different views. We need to communicate in order to understand each other, she said. “Sometimes, we agree to disagree, and as long as there’s an idea of respect and understanding, it’s OK.”
The Rainbow Alliance is for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders and allies.
Stephanie Duarte can be reached at duartes@ulv.edu.
