On the first weekend of the new year, Ursula’s Cafe looked a bit different than its usual decor. Nestled in the heart of downtown Roanoke, Ursula’s had undergone a quick makeover to accommodate an expected 30 LGBTQ+ weddings in two days.
The brainchild of Stuart resident Ben Williams, the weddings were intended to be a celebration of love and, to a lesser extent, he said, a rebuke of President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming term.
“I felt despondent,” Williams said about watching Trump’s electoral vote count creep up to and beyond the threshold for the presidency. “I don’t want to linger too much on the negative, but I fear that some extremely difficult times are on the horizon both socially and economically. I’d love nothing more than to be wrong.”
Williams isn’t alone. Vendors and volunteers across the country have been scheduling LGBTQ+ weddings ahead of Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration.
Williams and his partner, Lauren Ellis, took to social media to publicize their plan. Within 24 hours, the announcement took on a life of its own, with friends and strangers offering their support as couples across the region reached out asking how they could take part.
Although inclement weather likely reduced the number of participating couples to six, Williams said he was surprised by the outpouring of support, from couples to people wanting to volunteer their time.
“I am pretty involved politically, especially when the election comes around,” said photographer and Daleville resident Carly Sumpter. “I saw somebody shared [Williams’] post and I felt like I had a need to go out and help those who are looking to get married.”
Brittany Martz and Sarah Wilson of Richmond were the first couple to arrive and were promptly greeted by cheers and tears from the volunteers and friends in attendance. The pair learned of the event from the internet.
“I found it on a Reddit thread when I was looking for an officiant,” said Martz. “Someone mentioned that … they are looking to have a big old gay wedding, check out their Facebook post, so I did.”
The pair had planned to get married before learning about Williams’ event but decided to take part as a show of solidarity. In spite of the tears, smiles and jubilant atmosphere, Trump’s pending inauguration cast a small shadow over the event.
“As a member of the queer community, you’re just fearful for any marginalized group,” Wilson said. “I actually felt angry that I felt the need to rush the happiest thing in my life.”
Wilson’s comments echoed those of Williams.
“About 10 years ago, two very dear friends of mine got married and asked me if I would perform their ceremony. Their plan was that I would do the ceremony and they would get the actual legal paperwork done by the justice of the peace,” Williams said. “I told them I would do them one better and become an ordained minister.”
Since then, he has officiated around 20 weddings, among them LGBTQ+ couples who experienced difficulty finding officiants.
“This is a responsibility I take very seriously,” Williams said.
Although he believes that the Trump administration won’t prioritize rolling back marriage equality, the fear has been enough to give people pause.
“In his concurring opinion written when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Clarence Thomas wrote that the justices ‘should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell,’” Williams said.
Obergefell v. Hodges is the 2015 case that required states to recognize same-sex marriages. While many legal experts believe that decision isn’t in immediate danger, comments like Thomas’ are a point of concern among proponents of marriage equality.
“There is a fear among many that an incoming Trump administration could invalidate marriages,” said Narissa Rahaman, director of Equality Virginia. “The short answer is that there really is no realistic reason to fear that the marriages of same-sex couples will be invalidated.”
Rahaman said that this does not negate the concern many feel.
“We are disappointed to see that an incoming administration is sowing fear in folks,” Rahaman said.
Wilson and Martz said community is the best solution to combating the negative feelings. A GoFundMe campaign has raised $3,910, a portion of which will go toward the owners of Ursula’s Cafe, a donate-what-you-can coffee shop.
Owned and operated by Jordan Fallon and Ami Trowell, Ursula’s has been in business for three years. According to the owners, it has operated with the same spirit that inspired Williams’ marriage event.
“It’s part of our tradition to provide community space for vulnerable people,” Trowell said. “We think that falls within that mission.”