“These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever. These are the hands that will work along side yours as together you build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children. These are the hands that will give you support and encouragement to chase down your dreams. These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. These are the hands that will lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you.And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.”

“Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years, May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth.

Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulties and fear assail your relationship, as they threaten all relationships at one time or another, remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong.
In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives – remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight.”

 

To my shelter, my sun, my companion on this journey through life…thank you for the last 9 years and to many more crazy times ahead!

There are many gay people close to me that will now be able to receive the same rights as other married couples in New York state. We still have a long way to go because there are still over  1,000 federal benefits that are out of reach but it is a huge step forward.

I can’t wait to capture and share the stories of many more same sex couples! Love has no boundaries.

Here are some great articles about  gay marriage in New York!

New York City’s official tourism website- answers about getting married in New York

Gay marriage will change couples financial lives

Waking up to new marriage laws – love that they mention a couple in their 90′s who have been together for 50 years are planning to go on the 25th and get married!

The Road to gay marriage in New York

Looking forward to Wedding Bells

Bernadette Covey Smith, wedding planner for 14 Stories, a gay wedding planning company has a great post about getting married in New York

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Sofia Negron Photography is proud to announce a solo gallery showing of dance photographs from the last 5 years of Shut Up and Dance. The showing will be the entire month of May at TRUST Gallery in Philadelphia. The gallery opening will be held on May 6, 2011 from 6:00-9:00PM at TRUST at 249 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19106. During the month of May, the show can be seen Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00AM-6:00PM. It free and open to the public.

These images are more than just pretty dance photographs but a representation of the commitment of a community of artists, volunteers and a non-profit organization to bring life to others and feed their bodies and souls.

In 1993, dancers at the Pennsylvania Ballet wanted to do something to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. They realized the best thing they could do was “shut up and dance”. Every year since, the dancers have partnered with MANNA in presenting a one-night-only performance. For the last 5 years, Sofia Negron has had the honor of photographing this performance.

Especially for people at acute nutritional risk due to life-threatening illness, MANNA (Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance) prepares and delivers delicious nourishing meals and counsel, empowering individuals to battle illness and improve their quality of life. They provide 3 meals a day, 7 days a week at no charge. Every Shut Up and Dance ticket provides meals for one client.

A photographer for the last 10 years, Sofia Negron loves capturing movement and stories. Sofia not only photographs dancers and other artists, she also tells authentic love stories through her wedding photography. A former dancer herself, Sofia loves to capture the energy, the lines and the very soul of each dancer.

This exhibit will raise awareness for this wonderful organization, pay tribute to the dancers who have participated in these performances, and showcase Sofia’s dance photography work. 100% of the profits generated by the sale of these works during the show will be donated to MANNA.

Special thank you to:

Dancers and choreographers of Shut Up and Dance
MANNA
Trust Gallery
Judith Campbell of Campbell Studios
Tom Tallitsch
Mike Kennedy
bRhenda Starr