A declaration of love
Commitment ceremonies at Galbreath Chapel prove university's commitment to LGBT couples
By Jackie Zimmermann, Staff Writer
February 28, 2008 | noon
Whether instilling a pang of fear or a flutter of hope, couples in long-term relationships often look toward marriage as a promising conclusion to their courtship. However, laws in Ohio, and in many other states, propose difficulties for nontraditional marriages.
Because civil unions are still not legal in Ohio, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Ohioan's wedding bells are silenced. This leaves a small, yet significant void in the number of these celebratory occasions each year.
While the conclusion of legal issues surrounding gay marriage and civil unions is still indefinite, Ohio University’s Galbreath Chapel provides a welcome distraction from the legal woes. Because the chapel is non-denominational, it has been the home of many declarations of love, including both marriages for heterosexual couples and commitment ceremonies for LGBT couples.
"Having an on-campus facility available for commitment ceremonies makes a bold statement about the University's value of LGBT couples," ALLY President Will Wemer said. "This policy move recognizes that the deep and very emotional commitment of two people is an event worthy enough to be held in one of the most sacred and historic places on campus."
Although there have not been any recent commitment ceremonies held at Galbreath, the chapel has been open to them for 15 to 20 years. Chapel coordinator Kristen Boniello does not feel that allowing commitment ceremonies makes the chapel exceptional, it just gives members of the community the rights to which they are entitled.
"We don’t look at ourselves as being unique," Boniello said. "The chapel is a non-denominational state facility, which all citizens have access to and are treated equally."
Because the chapel is non-denominational, couples can choose whomever they wish to preside over the ceremony. For LGBT persons, this can include judges, religious clergy who agree to it or friends who were unable to follow their passion.
"One idea that two of my friends had was to have a religious LGBT person who was unable to become a member of the seminary preside, almost in a form of social activism," Wemer said.
Besides providing the opportunity for all members of society to publicly declare their love for one another, allowing commitment ceremonies at the chapel says a lot about OU’s already positive relationship with the LGBT community.
"This isn't the first time that OU has gone to bat for the LGBT members of the Ohio University community," Wemer said. "For example, when the Ohio General Assembly passed the Defense of Marriage Act, then-President Robert Glidden came out publicly in support of the LGBT community, calling the legislation 'embarrassing.'"
In the statement, made on Feb. 6, 2004, Glidden said that it is important that OU does all it can to "prepare our students to be citizens who are tolerant and understanding of people of different skin colors, ethnic and religious backgrounds, and yes, different sexual orientations."
The university also offers employees domestic partner benefits which allow the employee to decide to whom they will offer benefits. This allows both heterosexual and gay couples to offer benefits to their significant others.
OU's progress with the LGBT community has helped make it a place where students of all sexual orientations feel at ease.
"As with any public institution, there is still a lot of work to be done," Wemer said. "However, I would consider OU a very welcoming and tolerant place that is able to celebrate its large and diverse LGBT community."