Lambda Legal Clients Wed in Puerto Rico Marriage Celebration

The heavens opened and wept tears of joy, opined the officiants, as LGBT couples married in a downpour, under rainbow-striped umbrellas at Old San Juan’s picturesque and historic Paseo de la Princesa.

The dent in the drought here seemed symbolic of Puerto Ricans parched for family protections all these years, now able to marry. Joyful tears flowed freely as finally, after four decades together, Lambda Legal plaintiffs Iris Delia Rivera Rivera and Maritza López Avilés, before the daughter they had proudly raised, their family and their friends, took their vows and laced their arms together for a long-awaited toast in rainbow-tinted champagne flutes. Their marriage would profess their love and protect their family, as Iris' status as a Gulf War veteran would finally extend marital protections to her family. Lambda Legal and cocounsel Ada Mercedes Conde Vidal and her wife, Ivonne Álvarez Vélez, had fought valiantly for this day and won--through the combination of our Puerto Rico marriage lawsuit and Lambda Legal's Supreme Court litigation as part of the Obergefell v. Hodges team.

Iris and Maritza exchanging rings

Celebrating with us were LGBT allies and leaders, such as Pedro Julio Serrano, head of Puerto Rico Para Tod@s (Lambda Legal's organizational plaintiff in the Puerto Rico marriage suit) and Puerto Rico bar association presidents old and new (including a proud Mark Anthony Bimbela, sitting right up front). San Juan native Melissa Mark-Viverito, Speaker of the New York City Council, braved the downpour to join the festivities.

We wore wristbands from the Fundacion de Derechos Humanos that proclaimed "DIGNIDAD JUSTICIA IGUALDAD." Couples snapped photos before a towering white wedding cake adorned with rainbow accents.

Happily married!

Couples married individually, each taking vows before a representative from the colorful and celebratory range of officiants from an array of faiths, who spoke powerfully of love and equality and justice in addresses before the weddings. Lambda Legal clients Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro and Zulma Oliveras Vega, married days earlier, joined the celebration dressed festively, down to their purple canvas sneakers—the better to mingle in front of huge letters spelling out in lights: “I DO! SI!”

Celebrating with Pedro Julio Serrano, head of Puerto Rico Para Tod@s