SEQUIM — North Olympic Peninsula residents Diana Wickman and Judy Persall are preparing to be among the first same-sex couples to wed in Washington state next Sunday — the first day same-sex marriages can legally be performed.
The two retired Coast Guard officers, who have been together for 10 years, had considered a New Year’s Day wedding but instead “decided to go ahead and do it sooner rather than later,” Wickman said.
Statewide, voters approved Referendum 74, which legalized same-sex marriages, by 53.7 percent to 46.3 percent in the Nov. 6 general election.
Clallam County rejected it 52.49 percent to 47.51 percent, while Jefferson County approved 63.74 percent to 36.26 percent.
Election results are to be certified Wednesday, and the law will take effect Thursday. That will be the first day same-sex couples can obtain marriage licenses at county auditor’s offices.
The first weddings can be conducted next Sunday after a state-mandated three-day waiting period.
Persall and Wickman envision a simple ceremony before a small group of friends and family at their Happy Valley home.
It will be officiated by Chaplain Claire Hatler of Olympic Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, who confirmed Friday that the ceremony will be her first same-sex wedding.
The church is a “welcoming congregation” — a specific term that means the congregation is committed to supporting people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
For more information about the church at 73 Howe Road, phone 360-417-2665 or visit www.olympicuuf.org.
Wickman said neither she nor Persall will wear anything dressy — just something “a cut above our normal Sequim plaid.”
Persall was working on the vows last week.
“It’s going to be so simple,” she said. “I know I will be emotional, so I am keeping it simple.”
Kris Slack and Alda Siebrands, both 62 and of Port Angeles, have been married for seven years — by Canadian law.
Slack and Siebrands have the marriage certificate from Victoria, but it has simply been a piece of paper in the safe since then, Slack said.
Thursday will mark the day their marriage certificate will be recognized in Washington state.
That will give them the same civil rights other married couples in the state have, Slack said.
Slack hopes to see the federal Defense of Marriage Act repealed so their marriage can be recognized nationally.
In Port Townsend, Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will put out the welcome mat for gay couples seeking to be married next Sunday.
The church at 2333 San Juan Ave. is offering free wedding ceremonies to gay couples.
Individual weddings will be offered free from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. that day “in celebration of Referendum 74 passing,” said Deborah Carroll, congregational administrator.
“We’re happy that anyone can get legally married in Washington state now,” she added.
The Rev. Bruce Bode and Carol Thomas Cissell, a ministerial intern who is licensed to conduct marriages, will officiate at individual weddings for gay couples.
If couples choose to do so, they can move afterward into the fellowship hall to join an ongoing reception.
Church officials don’t know how many people will be wed.
“Nobody’s asked for this,” Carroll said. “We have no idea how many might show up.”
Bode asked that couples contact the church in advance “so we can have some idea of how many may be interested in doing this.
“We won’t turn anybody away who comes at the time, but it would be helpful to us if they could let us know,” said Bode, who emphasized that this will be only the first day the church will offer free weddings to gay couples.
“We’re available to do them at other times,” he said, adding that weddings will be provided free only to gay couples.
To contact the church — which like Olympic Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is a “welcoming congregation — phone 360-379-0609, email quuf@olympus.net or visit www.quuf.org.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
Managing Editor/News Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3531 or at leah.leach@peninsuladailynews.com.