A 95-year-old World War II vet married his boyfriend of 20 years , a 67-year-old Vietnam vet, Thursday at the Veterans Home of Chula Vista, California.
The May-December, or in this case, late October-December romance was the first gay wedding at the VA home. John Banvard,95, and Gerard Nadeau decided to get married after the Supreme Court struck down DOMA and Prop 8, making same-sex marriage legal in California.
“We were waiting on the Supreme Court to make that decision,” Banvard told Fox 5 San Diego. He and Nadeau have been living in the VA home for three years and wanted their ceremony among friends. However, some residents objected to the wedding and a town hall meeting was held to address any concerns.
“It’s been somewhat controversial,” facility director Neal Asper said. “I told them, they have the right to get married here just like everybody else.”
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Though some residents were against same-sex marriage, they supported Banvard’s and Nadeau’s right to get married. “The world is changing, we have to go along with it,” said one guest.
1EqualityUSA
Beautiful. Thanks for your service and for having the courage to be true.
TomMc
There’s hope, for us all.
Teleny
They’re so cute!
LadyL
Wow, congratulations! Wonderful story and good on their fellow residents for supporting the happy couple’s desire to wed (even if they weren’t sure they wanted to).
cenlanurse
I am so happy for them. I’m a nurse at the VA Hospital in Alexandria, LA. Good to see that things are changing.
Trip
Wonder what he’d think about Queerty supporting Russian products at a time when Russia is blatantly subjugating the rights of gays?
Eiswirth
The 95-year-old fellow was waiting for his kids to die to say “I do.”
damon459
@Trip: Wow nice ignorant comment, did you not see all the articles that already covered this? Stolichnaya for international distribution is bottled in Latvia by a company chartered in Luxembourg but founded by a Russian which distributes a wide variety of Russian spirits, having purchased a number of former Soviet brands and operations. Stolichnaya for Russian distribution is manufactured in Kaliningrad by a separate Russian company. You could also always try a google search and find this stuff out on your own.
Dakotahgeo
@Trip: My first news bite with my coffee this morning, a fantastic love story, and then YOU arrive at the scene, pissing and moaning about Russia, gay rights, vodka, etc! Go back to bed and try again… everyone deserves a second chance
at waking up on the bright side of the day! Geeezzzz!
EGO
This is great news, WOW, 95 years old. Kudos to all who support our equal rights.
captainburrito
“However, some residents objected to the wedding and a town hall meeting was held to address any concerns.”
How said, you’d think that at their age they’d be able to let it go and allow the gay couple to marry there.
BlueDude
@captainburrito: Some people just never get over sh*t. Look at all the moronic bigots still fighting the Civil War.