Captivating Couples 2013

They hail from all over the nation, falling head over heels for one another in many different ways. But one thing ties all of these adorable twosomes together—love.

SHANEL & TARA
West Philly and Morristown, PA
Shanel, 31, healthcare recruiter
Tara, 40, health services coordinator, owner of Freedom G Photography
Shanel and Tara met two years ago while Tara was photographing the Liberty City Drag Kings, Phillys only queer drag and burlesque performance troupe. Shanel was performing. Together since March 2012, they share a love of traveling, photography, boxing, MMA and being active and going to the gym. In the next few years they hope to travel the world together. Being an active part of their local LGBT community and volunteerism is also a unifying thread in their relationship. We have started a network for LGBT community of affiliates, artists and performers to collaborate and contribute into our city, says Tara. While they can talk about anything-even the struggle to find inner peace with their pasts and patterns that existed before their relationship-they are still taking it slow. I am a little bit gun-shy about marriage, but I am grateful for the advances the government is making about recognizing same-sex marriage, Tara admits. We fantasize and make jokes, like Shanels refusal to have line dances at her wedding!


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