Mag seeks same, same but different
One of the last great pillars of pure, celebratory heterosexuality -“ the bridal magazine -“ is getting in touch with its queer side.
With gay and lesbian marriages still creating headlines all over the world, Cosmopolitan Bride is looking for same-sex couples’ commitment ceremonies to feature in its My Day, My Way section.
The mag first introduced a same-sex coupling in its Summer 2003 issue, with the commitment ceremony of Abbie Widin and Michelle Williams.
Abbie and Michelle had a beautiful ceremony in the foyer of the State Theatre. They wore matching red and gold dresses and swapped matching rings and Cosmo Bride presented their event exactly the same way as it did Louise and Clinton’s, or Melinda and Adrian’s.
That ceremony was so beautiful, so inspirational, Cosmo Bride editor Rebecca Lowrey told Sydney Star Observer.
And straight women get inspiration from other girls’ weddings, it doesn’t matter if the other wedding is straight or not.
Lowrey said the story of Abbie and Michelle’s ceremony received a good response from lesbians and straight readers, but she’d been unable to find other same-sex couples since then.
I can imagine why people are reluctant to come forward, they might be wondering why we would want to cover it. Unfortunately same-sex marriage isn’t recognised in Australia yet. But it’s not presented like -˜this is a lesbian wedding’ -“ it’s part of a big section called My Day, My Way. So what could be more apt than a same-sex couple making a public declaration of their love, their way?
And despite the inherent girliness of the mag, Lowrey said she wouldn’t turn away a male couple necessarily.
It’s a chick’s magazine. I’d prefer to have lesbian couples in, because number one I don’t think they have as high visibility as gay couples. But I love to include any couples’ celebration of love. It’s all about picking up ideas about how people reflect their relationship and bring their relationship together.
The New York Times became the first major US paper to publish same-sex marriage notices in September 2002.
