"One of the desires of my heart is to legally marry him before I die," Perry said. "We've always said that to each other, and we finally have the chance to do it."
Rev. Perry, LA Times, July 5, 2003

Advocacy News

July 14, 2003

Gay U.S. church moderator to wed
Toronto marriage planned for July 16, 2003

Toronto - Thirty years after he established a Metropolitan Community Church in Toronto, the denomination's founder, Rev. Troy D. Perry, 63, of Los Angeles, will marry his partner of 18 years, Phillip Ray De Blieck in a private ceremony, conducted by Rev. Brent Hawkes, at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 16 at MCC Toronto, 115 Simpson Avenue.

At a news conference at 11:00 a.m., following the marriage ceremony, Rev. Perry will invite same sex couples from every state across the U.S.A. to visit Canada to be married and then register online to join him in challenging American human rights laws. Rev. Perry says he expects U.S. laws to catch up to Canada's within five years.

Rev. Perry and Mr. De Blieck will arrive at Toronto City Hall Tuesday, Tuesday, July 15 at 2:00 to apply for their marriage licence and will be available to speak to the news media in the City Hall rotunda. They will also be available for photo opportunities at Patty's Flowers, 589 Parliament Street, at aprox. 11:00 a.m. Tuesday.

In 1973, Rev. Perry called on Rev. Bob Wolfe of Sacramento, California to establish the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto. Rev. Hawkes was named Pastor in 1977 and conducted the world's first legal marriage of same sex couples in January, 2001.

Background: www.mccchurch.org

Jim Burkitt, MCC Communications Director, 310-625-4177