On Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Jared Polis made the perfect resolution of his time in workplace and married Marlon Reis. Channeling his trademark geekdom, Polis commemorated his “mawage” by way of a quote from The Princess Bride.
Once I noticed the tweet, my coronary heart soared.
Initially, I beforehand wrote an entire column primarily based on a metaphor from the identical film (my geek-game is a minimum of on par with Polis’). As I stated then, and keep now, there is no such thing as a such factor as an excessive amount of Princess Bride.
Second — and, OK, perhaps extra necessary — lower than a decade after Colorado handed civil unions and the U.S. Supreme Court docket dominated in favor of marriage equality, the nation’s solely brazenly homosexual governor married the love of his life. And the reactions ranged from “mazel tov!” to memes of Andre the Giant proclaiming, “that’s fantastic.”
Even Jim Obergefell, the wedding equality case plaintiff, noted the nuptials on his Fb web page.
The huge, overwhelming majority of replies to Polis’ tweet have been congratulatory and ebullient. Scrolling by way of the entire checklist, I solely noticed a handful of Humperdinks spewing petty, ugly remarks. Overwhelmed by the constructive outpouring, it was apparent that, as they are saying, love wins.
That’s exactly what led the nice and cozy sensation in my chest to rise, prickle the again of my neck, pull the corners of my mouth upward and exit by way of a tear of happiness. Exterior of a mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich, real love is the best factor on the planet.
READ: Colorado Sun opinion columnists.
I sacrificed my political ambitions inside the Republican Social gathering after I argued in favor of civil unions and signed onto an amicus brief supporting marriage equality. Photos like Polis and Reis going through one another, committing their lives to at least one one other, have been precisely why I did it. And why I’ll by no means remorse it.
My selection was not about being on the suitable aspect of historical past. It was about being on the suitable aspect of real love. I couldn’t have lived with myself if I sat silent whereas individuals like Polis and Reis have been denied outward recognition of inward ties that sure their hearts.
Within the interim years I’ve attended many civil unions and marriages between {couples} beforehand denied that proper. I stood within the crowd as Fran and Anna Simon acquired the state’s first civil union certificates two minutes after midnight on Might 1, 2013, and once more when Mayor Michael Hancock married them a bit over a yr later. I’ve cried as I witnessed mates spiritually married for years reaffirm their love earlier than the legislation.
I have no idea if that further tinge of emotion will ever be absent after I see joyful {couples} getting into beforehand verboten marriages. I do know that the battle, and the multitude of heroic advocates I met alongside they manner, are as vibrant in my reminiscence right now as they have been within the second.
Perhaps that’s simply one of many little quirks of real love. It might probably hold each a cabin boy named Westley and our most cherished reminiscences alive.
Given the time calls for on Polis as governor, and Reis, whose exploits on behalf of animals make him a hero in my family, I’m not sure in the event that they opted for the “quick model” or the “short, short version” of matrimonial vows (what a yr 1987 was for comedic marriage ceremony officiants!). I do know that the second will probably be with them at all times, until the very end.
Polis and Reis married in a small ceremony beneath a chuppah someplace on the College of Colorado campus. It was a non-public second, however one we are able to all be publicly ecstatic about.
I’m positive I converse for many Coloradans wishing the couple a lifetime of affection, “twue wuv.”
Mario Nicolais is an legal professional and columnist who writes on legislation enforcement, the authorized system, well being care and public coverage. Observe him on Twitter: @MarioNicolaiEsq
The Colorado Solar is a nonpartisan information group, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers don’t mirror the opinions of the newsroom. Read our ethics policy for more on The Sun’s opinion policy and submit columns, counsel writers or give suggestions at opinion@coloradosun.com.
