Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros renew gay couple's vows
By Sarah Boone
Journalism Intern
On May 29, 2016, the popular Indie band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros performed in North Carolina. Recently, the state passed the House Bill 2 which has deterred famous bands and musicians from performing in N.C.
"HB 2 was passed by an immoral minority – North Carolina has many thriving, creative, modern communities," lead vocalist Alex Ebert tells the Rolling Stone. "We were tempted to cancel the show, but decided at the last minute to rally the crowd instead by renewing the vows of our good friends onstage."
During the hit song, “Home,” Ebert began telling a story about how two of his friends had gotten married. He went on to explain about how he was extremely upset that he missed their wedding, so he decided the right thing to do would be to re-pledge their vows.
Ebert then introduced PETA’s Senior Vice President, Dan Mathews, and his husband, production designer Jack Ryan, on stage while the band continued playing music in the background.
In front of 2.5 thousand fans, Ebert joyfully told the couple to "express your love freely, whenever and wherever."
According to Advocate, the couple has previously publicly displayed their love for each other in protest of anti-LGBT laws. Earlier in 2012, after North Carolina voters passed Amendment 1, which barred marriage equality in the state, Mathews and Ryan took a picture of themselves kissing while lying on the top of a sign marking the North Carolina Republican Party’s headquarters in Raleigh.
Watch the video above to view the ceremony.
Copyright The Gayly - 5/31/2016 @ 2:03 p.m.