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Photography by Jeff Pearcy / Text by Will Fellows
In recent years, the battle surrounding legal recognition of same-sex marriages and civil unions has grabbed headlines. Voices from the political and religious arenas have had their say. Often lost in the debate have been the voices of same-sex couples themselves.
In 2006, voters in the state of Wisconsin approved an amendment to the state constitution banning legal recognition of same-sex unions: “Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state.”
In the United States, the average duration of heterosexual marriages that end in divorce is approximately seven years. On that basis, we invited same-sex couples who had been in relationships for seven years or longer to be interviewed and photographed for this exhibit. The 30 participating couples had been together for periods ranging from seven years to 50 years.
Here are portraits of couples whose committed relationships are considered by many to be unworthy of recognition. We invite you to look, read, and decide for yourself.
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