Photo A Day – December 4: Black and white #FMSphotoaday

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT a black and white photo that adds drama and impact.

This was not taken today, but on the day of our civil partnership on 6th May. It is one of my favourite photos of the year, too good not to share.

My partner and I are poised on the threshold of the church as the minister prepares to welcome us.

Like the pause before the conductor raises the baton and a concert begins, this moment was filled with hope, excitement, anticipation, and a few nerves.

As the music began and we walked together past family and friends who had come from far and wide, it became clear that all the preparation and perspiration to get us to this day had all been worth it.

As our other civil partnership photos show, it was also a day of great colour and celebration, with lots of love and cake!

As the first couple to register their civil partnership in a place of worship in the UK, we were delighted to share our experience to help others who would want to do the same but may not know it is possible. We were in the local paper and on regional TV news, and received some affirming feedback. Some national publications also picked up the story, leading to some negative comments on internet forums.

To those who dispute the validity of our relationship and the promises we made to each other on that day in church, I would say that your arguments against marriage equality are not as black and white as you make out. Listen to the experiences of people like us who have worked hard to achieve recognition and acceptance for our relationships, and see what develops. Exposure to new ways of thinking may remove the drama of your fears and help you rejoice in the diverse colours of the spectrum of loving human relationships.

For the background to the Photo A Day challenge, please read the intro to Day 1 here.