24 April 2008
Never Too Late: Lesbians Marry In
Nursing Home
Ruth Pogson, 83, and Beth Aime, 79, were
married yesterday in a civil wedding ceremony as relatives, friends and other
residents of the Island View nursing home in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
looked on.
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Ruth Pogson, 83, and Beth Aime 79
were married yesterday.
Photo: Darren Stone,
Canwest News Service
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Both women are retired Anglican priests and
have been in a committed relationship since 1995.
Pogson, who has a number of health problems and
is confined to a wheelchair, is a resident of the home. She is scheduled to move
to St. Jude's Anglican Nursing Home in Vancouver on Friday. Aime already has an
apartment in Vancouver. Like many older couples, they will live apart.
Once Pogson is settled in her new nursing home
the couple hope to have their union blessed by a priest at Vancouver's Christ
Church Cathedral which is in the New Westminster diocese.
"I'm happy they're getting married. I'm happy
they found happiness with each other. Isn't this what life is all about?" asked
Peter Elliott, dean of the cathedral.
"There's nothing new about gay and lesbian
people living in committed partnerships. The difference in Canada, and I thank
God for it, is that we can live openly and we can receive the support of our
community and church, and that makes a huge difference in the quality of life."
Pogson had been involved in the fight for women
clergy and became one of the first women to become a priest in the Anglican
Church. Aime noted that Pogson is still feisty.
"Here she is again. She's 83 and she's still at
it," Aime said at a champagne reception at the nursing home.
"This for us is a rite of passage," said Pogson.
"It's a whole new stage of life. It changes everything."
