Romney among key figures invited to nuptials -- but he won't attend
Now that gay marriage is a reality, so are invitations to same-sex weddings, which are landing on the doorsteps of some of the most prominent political and business figures in Massachusetts.
Among those receiving invitations to gay marriages are Governor Mitt Romney, who declined, former governor William Weld, who is expected to officiate at one wedding later this year, and Anne Gifford, wife of
One big-name politician who is not getting an invitation: House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran, a gay-marriage opponent who learned that his first cousin, Maryellen O'Neil, is marrying her partner of 18 years, Lisa-Annette DiStefano, next Sunday.
O'Neil said she is not inviting any of her 68 first cousins. Although Finneran's stance on gay marriage disappointed her, "everything is fine" between them.
"I've never had any problems with him, but I know how he feels politically, and I don't understand it," O'Neil said.
Finneran, who said he treats O'Neil and her partner with "great affection and respect," said they have not discussed gay marriage, and that no amount of discussion could have changed his mind.
"I'm a traditionalist," Finneran said. "My sense is this would have been better left to the consideration of the Legislature rather than to an edict of the judiciary. It's a classic separation of powers in my mind, and I don't think any amount of conversation with any family members would have changed my position."
Former governor Weld, who supports gay marriage, is expected to officiate at a same-sex wedding. Weld, who runs a venture capital firm in New York, plans to return to Massachusetts to preside over the wedding of two former high-ranking members of his administration: Mitchell Adams, a former commissioner of revenue, and Kevin Smith, Weld's former chief of staff. Adams and Smith, who live in Dedham, will be married at King's Chapel in downtown Boston.
Today, several powerful players will travel to Manchester-by-the-Sea for the wedding of Alexander Westerhoff, 35, and Thomas I. Lang, 41, antique dealers who were the country's first male couple to obtain a civil union when Vermont began granting them four years ago. Gifford will attend.
Lotus Notes inventor Ray Ozzie and Ronald Skates, former CEO of Data General, are expected to attend. Gomes will preside. Massachusetts Representatives Harriet Stanley, Democrat of West Newbury, and Barbara A. L'Italien, an Andover Democrat, as well as Senators Steven A. Baddour and Bruce E. Tarr also plan to attend the ceremony. Romney, a gay-marriage opponent, was invited to the wedding of Darrell Martinie, a radio astrologer known as the Cosmic Muffin who worked on Romney's 2002 campaign. Romney's spokeswoman said that he has a "prior engagement" and could not attend Martinie's marriage to Edward Boesel.
