Jun 16, 2013

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake officiated at a mass same-sex wedding ceremony Sunday in Druid Hill Park during the Baltimore Pride Festival.

: Alice Chong, left, and Britany Beetham, right of Baltimore, who were married this afternoon, hold hands. Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake conducted a mass same-sex wedding ceremony in Druid Hill Park during the Baltimore Pride Festival.(Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Britany Beetham, left, and Alice Chong of Baltimore share a moment after taking their wedding vows. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Rhoda Blocker, left, and Allison Fisher, along with other same-sex couples, share a kiss during their wedding ceremony. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/The Baltimore Sun)

: Rhoda Blocker, center left, and Allison Fisher smile after taking their wedding vows. Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake conducted a same-sex wedding ceremony this afternoon in Druid Hill Park during the Baltimore Pride Festival. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/The Baltimore Sun)

: Same-sex couples gather at the start of their wedding ceremony, which was conducted by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: A large crowd awaits the arrival of Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who conducted a same-sex wedding ceremony this afternoon in Druid Hill Park during the Baltimore Pride Festival. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Tyrone Davis, left, pins a boutonniere on his soon-to-be spouse Don Bromer, right, before their wedding. Both are from Baltimore. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Clare Twomey, left, and Liz Bliss, right, of Baltimore look toward the stage after taking their wedding vows. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Just-married couple Larry Knight, center left, and Ronald Foit, right, pose for a celebratory photo after the mass same-sex wedding ceremony. They are from Baltimore. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Just-married same-sex couples reach for rainbow cupcakes baked by Oooh So Sweet Bakery after their ceremony, which was conducted by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake in Druid Hill Park during the Baltimore Pride Festival. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

Mass same-sex wedding at Pride celebration ‘a long time coming’
By Carrie Wells, The Baltimore Sun
8:30 p.m. EDT, June 16, 2013

Lorie Young, her white veil neatly pulled over her eyes, tucked a handwritten note into the bouquet of blue and purple flowers she clutched as she waited for the ceremony to begin.

Written on it were her wedding vows, the promises of a shared future with her partner, Latasha Dinkins. Behind them was the 11-hour drive the Atlanta couple made to Baltimore, four years of dating and raising their two daughters, and the moment last New Year’s Eve when they decided they should get married.

“I’m nervous as hell,” said Young, 28, who plans to officially change her name to Dinkins. “I’m thinking, Lord, please help me get through this. I don’t want to cry.”

Mass same-sex wedding ceremony conducted during Baltimore Pride Festival

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