Man dies hours after his gay wedding

[Ian David]

Man dies hours after his gay wedding
Ben Townley, GAY.COM
Wednesday 7 December, 2005 11:24

A terminally ill gay man who was given special permission to hold a civil partnership with his partner early has died.

Matthew Roche, 46, was ill with lung cancer and given dispensation by the Worthing registrar to hold the ceremony on Monday, hours after the new laws came into force.

The registrar allowed the pair to avoid the waiting period between announcing the intention to register and holding a ceremony, after Mr Roche said he feared he would not live long enough to celebrate the wedding.

He had said that holding the ceremony was important to both him and his partner, Christopher Cramp, especially since he was so ill.

They were legally joined at St Barnabas Hospice in Worthing, West Sussex surrounded by friends and family.

According to press reports, Mr Roche had said he “really, really needed to get married” minutes after the ceremony.

"Chris and I have always wanted to do this - it is just a shame that I have been taken so early," he is quoted as saying.

“We are very lucky indeed to be given the opportunity.”

Mr Roche died on Tuesday, the Hospice said.

More:
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/9352

Oh, yeah. This is what will destroy civilization.

Phase 1: Gay Marriage
Phase 2: ?
Phase 3: Nazis riding dinosaurs

[kweerwolf]

1. I'd send a copy of that story to every fundie I know ...

... so they'd get an inkling that marriage equality is about two people loving each other so much that not even impending death could cancel out their love, but their response would probably be something like "do you suppose they committed sodomy right there in the hospital?" or "so was it the 'husband' or 'wife' who died?"

Any person who isn't touched by that story should resign their membership in the human race.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

2. I hope it leaves him with some level of comfort