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Clergy members who competed on 'Amazing Race' are finally wed
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Photos by Jason Redmond / Star staff Kate Lewis, left, and Pat Hendrickson, who were on "The Amazing Race" television series last year, exchanged marriage vows and rings Wednesday in front of friends and family members during a ceremony performed by Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriage Josie Pano at the Ventura County Government Center in Ventura. in fron Wednesday. They live in Hawaii but still own a home in Thousand Oaks.
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More from Conejo ValleyA year ago, Pat Hendrickson and Kate Lewis were coaxing a donkey along a path in Ireland as part of "The Amazing Race" reality television series.
On Wednesday, a brand of reality they described as similarly surreal brought the Episcopalian women into the Ventura County Clerk and Recorder's Office. There, in front of 20 friends and family members, including Hendrickson's two tie-wearing grandsons, they were married.
"Who would ever have thought we would do that?" Hendrickson said of the CBS-TV show that brought the women to Ireland and Amsterdam for adventures that included riding a high-wire bicycle over a ravine. "And a year ago, who would ever have thought we would do this?"
The women have been together 11 years and were joined in a blessing ceremony at Saint Augustine by the Sea Episcopal Church in Santa Monica in 2004. Both are clergy in a denomination that like many others struggles with gay marriage. Lewis is a priest, and Hendrickson, formerly director of youth and family ministries at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Thousand Oaks, is an ordained deacon.
They own a home in Thousand Oaks but are in the process of moving to the Hawaiian island of Oahu, where Lewis is vicar at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Kailua. They came home to claim the civil right of marriage that was given to gay and lesbian couples through a California Supreme Court ruling in May.
Holding bouquets of sunset-colored roses, they showed up at the same facility where they tried to marry three times before as part of an annual quest on Valentine's Day.
"This is not Valentine's Day," Lewis said as she approached the front counter Wednesday. "They're going to say yes.'"
Friends and family aimed camcorders, cameras and cell phones at the couple as they stood under an arbor decorated with plastic calla lilies. They exchanged vows and worked gold rings onto each other's fingers under the watch of a robed county employee who pronounced them "married under the laws of the state of California."
They sealed the marriage with a kiss and adjourned with the rest of the party to a Mexican restaurant for champagne and sparkling cider.
For the two women, the civil ceremony was motivated by some of the same objectives that were part of "The Amazing Race," where they lasted only two episodes but are still sometimes recognized. They wanted to show that people who lead a life that seems unique — lesbian "married ministers," as they were described on the show — aren't all that different from anyone else.
"It's our opportunity to normalize it," Lewis said.
Stressing the difference between religious weddings and civil ceremonies legalized in California, they said this was about claiming rights.
"I'm OK with you not accepting who I am," Hendrickson said. "But don't tell me that I have to be something else to have my rights in this country."
Posted by sdetatae on July 10, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
congratulations!
Posted by JohnGC on July 10, 2008 at 9:32 a.m.
(This thread was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by JohnGC on July 10, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The normalization of homosexuality in so-called “progressive” countries in Europe and Canada has given rise to hate crimes laws and speech codes that have been used to harass men and women of faith, fine politicians who defend traditional marriage, force Christian ministries to hire homosexuals and put pastors in prison.
It has started here in the U.S. A Christian business owner in New Mexico was fined $6,000 for refusing to participate in a homosexual “wedding.” In New Jersey, a religious organization affiliated with the Methodist Church was told it must allow homosexual couples to use its outdoor pavilion for “gay weddings.”
News broke yesterday that a homosexual activist is suing two leading publishing companies, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan, for emotional pain and mental distress. The anguish was caused by the fact that the Bibles they print describe homosexual conduct as a sin. He is seeking $70 million in damages.
Posted by Tom_Johnston on July 10, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hate to tell you JohnGC, but homosexuality is not being "normalized" it already is, it's just coming out from under a cloud of hate, fear, and intolerance.
Ok, not as many people are homosexual as there are heterosexual....since when does being numerically more common define "normal"?
The tipping line between Ventura County being Democratic or Republican is getting thinner..is the smaller party then not "normal"...maybe its the Independents, failing to find an allegience that are "abnormal".
It is very apparent that same sex orientation has been around as long as their has been sex. Kinda makes you think, not usual, but not abnormal.
Abnormal is fear, hatred and disgust with people who until you find out they are gay...you deal with in a "normal" fashion.
The ability of one class by virtue of greater numbers to oppress another does not equate with one being "normal" and the minority not, whatever you might want.
Times comin' for you to get over it.
Posted by Tom_Johnston on July 10, 2008 at 6:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OOOPS! Where are my manners?
CONGRATULATIONS Ladies! Here's to the Best for you both!
Posted by dabien on July 11, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations and best wishes to the happy couple!
Posted by MEATisMURDER on July 12, 2008 at 8:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hey john... looks like your god has failed you again. your bigotry and hatred (masked with the word "faith") is again WRONG.
"normalized" LOL.
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