The Wedding of Jane and Pete-e
“This Pete-e is the love of my life and also my best friend. Having this ceremony is really a public sanctioning of our relationship together. It’s not legal recognition, but it’s as close as we can get right this minute. And, of course, if that comes, that will be the frosting on the cake. But at least we’ll have the cake.”
- Jane Abbott Lighty, left, speaking of Pete-e Petersen at Seattle First Baptist Church following their wedding.
Seattle First Baptist Church on Capitol Hill has been performing same-sex weddings, also known as “covenant ceremonies”, since the mid 1980’s.
In 1996, the federal Defense of Marriage Act defined marriage as being between a man and a woman. This prevents same-sex couples from enjoying the same benefits married heterosexual couples do, including family health insurance and the transfer of Social Security benefits upon the death of one partner, as well as taxation, inheritance and hospital visitation privileges.
The Washington State Supreme Court is expected to decide soon on marriage equality for same-sex couples. If the court legalizes same-sex marriages, churches still would not be required to perform them. But gay couples who marry in civil ceremonies would be recognized by the state.
Massachusetts is the only state that legally allows gay marriages; it passed the law in 2004. Canada also allows it, as does Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Featured in local filmmaker Drew Emery’s documentary “Inlaws & Outlaws”, Jane Abbott Lighty, 70, and Pete-e Petersen, 78, are also known for their active participation in the Seattle men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus. Romantic partners for 28 years, they decided not to wait for the Supreme Court ruling.
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Jane Abbott Lighty and Pete-e Petersen hold hands during their wedding reception. Says the coordinating pastor, the Rev. Stephen Jones, “Marriage is a commitment between romantic lovers. It is also a commitment between cherished friends.”
“This Pete-e is the love of my life and also my best friend. Having this ceremony is really a public sanctioning of our relationship together. It’s not legal recognition, but it’s as close as we can get right this minute. And, of course, if that comes, that will be the frosting on the cake. But at least we’ll have the cake,” says Jane Abbott Lighty, left, hugging Pete-e Petersen at Seattle First Baptist Church on Capitol Hill on Oct. 29.
Said Pastor Jones, during his opening greeting, “You gave serious thought to postponing this wedding until the Supreme Court of Washington state grants marriage equality to all couples. You finally decided that the romantic bond between you far exceeds any legal authority the state could offer, and that marriage isn’t a possession of the church or state. Marriage is your business, your concern and your decision.
“It’s a way of celebrating who we are and what we are and the fact that we have a wonderful circle of people in our lives who are there to support us and share those feelings,” says Jane Lighty as she and Pete-e Petersen leave Seattle First Baptist Church on Capitol Hill.
Heather Andersen, center, and Leslie Christian were given the wedding bouquets of Jane and Pete-e in the hopes that they would be the next couple to be wed. Both are plaintiffs in the Washington State Supreme Court case dealing with marriage equality laws for same-sex couples, expected to be decided shortly.
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