NEW YORK - Michael Lucas and his long-time partner, Richard Winger, will exchange wedding vows during a private ceremony in West Hollywood, Calif., this weekend, the couple announced Wednesday. West Hollywood, Calif., City Councilman John Duran will officiate.
Lucas is the founder, president and chief executive officer of Lucas Entertainment. Winger is an international businessman and president emeritus of New York City's LGBT Center.
The men also will be celebrating their eighth anniversary as a committed couple.
"I have loved Michael for eight years, ever since we met at a holiday party, and I look forward to reaffirming our love and our relationship," Winger said.
In addition to exchanging vows, over the weekend Winger and Lucas plan to host a fund-raiser for Equality California, a statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights and advocacy organization. The group has spearheaded the "No on Prop 8" campaign in an effort to defeat California's Proposition 8 ballot initiative, which calls for the elimination of same-sex marriage in the state.
In fact, California's recent legalization of same-sex marriage is the reason Lucas and Winger are being married in the Los Angeles area, even though both men are prominent members of the New York City gay and lesbian community. The state of New York does not recognize same-sex marriages performed within its boundaries.
"I'm very excited about the upcoming ceremony, and I'm proud to be having it in a state that accepts our relationship," Lucas said. "This is not only a declaration of our love, but [it also is] a way to show that gay people can marry just like heterosexual couples. While it's difficult to believe these rights may be swept away by such ignorance [as passage of California's Proposition 8 would imply], it's moments such as this when we need to come together and fight for a cause."
Following their nuptials in California, the couple plans to commemorate the ceremony with a gathering in New York in November.
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