On Thursday, Oct. 8, wedding bells rang and vows were shared as Chinese teacher Chris Fray married long–time partner Chip Reed. After 16 years together, the couple finally decided to make its love official.
Fray and Reed first met at a Bread and Roses fundraiser at the Burr Mansion in Fairfield. They went on their first date two nights later, and have been together ever since.
This led to the idea to host their wedding at the place where they were first acquainted.
Fray shared how after dating for only six months, they knew they would spend the rest of their lives together.
“As we spent more time together, we realized how perfect we were for each other and adored one another more and more each day.”
Reed proposed to Fray on his birthday, Nov. 5, 2008—this was the day after President Barack Obama had won the presidential election. Reed gave his significant other a Tiffany & Co. bag, enclosed with an invitation to his very own wedding.
In one word, Reed described his wedding as “emotional.”
“After 16 years, I was surprised at how rewarding and enchanted it was to be surrounded by all the people I love in my life at that moment,” Reed said. He was ecstatic that everybody who supported him was able to share the most memorable event in his life with him and his partner.
A few of Fray’s own students attended the wedding as well; they helped organize parking and situated guests on the day of the ceremony. J.J. Mathewson ’12 explained how he believed the wedding was clear evidence of how society has leapt forward.
“Mr. Fray’s wedding symbolized a huge step for homosexuals. It was a landmark occasion and showed this community’s openness,” Mathewson said.
The overall response from Fray’s students was that they were glad to be a part of such an inspiring event, and that they were there to help out a teacher whom they truly respect.
“This wedding sent the message that there aren’t any restrictions to love,” Matt George ’12 said.
Fray said that he believes that it is unfair how “homosexual couples are forced to pay lawyers lots of money to attain rights and freedoms that any heterosexual couple gets in the blink of an eye.” He is grateful that Connecticut has made it legal for gay couples to get married, and ensured that future discrimination of gays will soon disappear once more states follow in Connecticut’s lead.
Towards the more controversial issue of gay marriage nationwide, Fray expressed his own viewpoints for future generations.
“I feel the responsibility to be a role model for younger gay couples so that they can feel as though getting married is something to look forward to,” Fray said. “Marriage means a great deal; that is why people are fighting so strongly towards it. I want to make the statement that this is something with which time has come.”
