Wedded Legally After 26 Years Of Waiting

It was the hottest day of the year so far. The sun shone and the little Methodist Church in the Stockport suburb of Heaton Mersey was packed solid with people who were there to watch a couple exchanging their wedding vows.

Veteran Trans Rights Campaigner Stephen Whittle and his partner, Sarah Rutherford became husband and wife in a simple but moving ceremony on June 18 2005 in front of family, friends and their local church congregation. Afterwards they posed outside for photos and everyone then headed for the reception at Manchester’s Whythenshawe Hall.

On one level it was so very ordinary and unremarkable. The children sang. A baby cried. Confetti was thrown. Just like a million other weddings.

On another level it was an an especially moving event because of WHO was involved, and what they had been through in order to see such a day. Even the groom struggled for composure as he was at last able to utter vows of love and devotion to the woman he has been with already for 26 years.

At the end of the service the little childrens’ choir, taught and conducted by fellow campaigner Alex Whinnom, sang a medley of songs, with the congregation enthusiastically joining in as the couple signed the register in front of us. They ended with “Something Inside So Strong” by Labi Siffre, whose lyrics seemed especially poignant for the occasion.

The higher you build your barriers

The taller I become

The farther you take my rights away

The faster I will run

You can deny me

You can decide to turn your face away

No matter, cos there’s….

Something inside so strong

I know that I can make it

Tho’ you’re doing me wrong, so wrong

You thought that my pride was gone

Oh no, something inside so strong

Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong