Renee & Kelebohile
Long Island City, NY
Renee, 50, supervisor highway repairer
Kelebohile, 48, station agent
Kele and Renee met in in 1989 at Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW), an organization that trains women for careers in skilled construction. They became friends, but truly fell in love after running into one another at Grove Bar in the West Village in 1991. Early on, Renee had her heart set on getting married in Brooklyn—a feeling that intensified after meeting Kele. “When marriage became legal in New York State [in June 2011], we planned to get married the following fall,” Renee recalls, and they entered the city’s lottery to snag a marriage license on July 24, the first day they would be available. “When we realized we won [a spot in] the lottery to get married, we decided to be a part of history. It was a big celebration for us as marriage equality activists.” Kele and Renee married at the Brooklyn Municipal Building, surrounded by friends, well-wishers and fellow newlyweds; they enjoyed a reception with Borough President Marty Markowitz. And they did celebrate with a “second wedding” a week later at Marble Collegiate Church with their loved ones. “We are both growing spiritually as a couple and developing a spiritual practice to enhance our love, give back and stay healthy,” Renee says. “We are committed to healing, faith, forgiveness, and prayer to strengthen our relationship.”
What Do You Think?