Celebrating Obergefell v. Hodges in Jersey City
Standing on the Six26 rooftop on a cloudy, cool summer night, three couples smiled from ear to ear. It was partially due to the quips from the gorgeous, personable, and legendary drag queen Harmonica Sunbeam. But the reason they gathered on a Thursday night was to renew their wedding vows and celebrate their love.
June 26, 2025 marked 10 years since the Supreme Court handed down its ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, the case that made marriage equality the law of the land, so choosing that date to celebrate these couples was no accident.
“We have to be out there, we have to be present, we have to be visible,” said Eddie Baez from Jersey City Pride, who produced the event. “This year is so important, as a community, to come together.”
The Six26 bar in downtown Jersey City, named for that historic date in American history, has held these vow renewals every year since 2019 in partnership with Jersey City Pride. It’s an intimate gathering, attended by a few dozen people with cocktails in hand, appreciating the freedom to love who you choose.
“You can be yourself here,” Deanna Varela, a manager at Six26 told me. She’s an ally, and I could tell from her face as she said it, she’s proud to work with the LGBTQ community. The event, she said, “shows what we stand for.”
Sunbeam opened up the ceremony with her trademark humor, telling the crowd that all three couples on stage met on dating apps. “There is something to be said about dating apps, folks,” she said with a smile. “Put your real picture up there. Tell your real age and weight. It could happen to you. Stop with the fuckin’ catfish.”
The tone was upbeat the entire night, despite the lingering concerns shared by many queer people about efforts to roll back rights. “I’m so happy for marriage equality,” Sunbeam said, “and it won’t be taken away, no matter who’s the president.”
The mistress of ceremonies introduced the couples, sharing sweet stories about their time together. She recounted a moment where Joseph Cameron and German Reinoza were getting to know each other. At the time, Cameron didn’t know Reinoza didn’t like tomatoes. So when Cameron popped one in Reinoza’s mouth, he tried to be polite, until he had to spit it out. Sunbeam quipped, “What else have you — oh, never mind.”
You can tell from the way the two look at each other, they’re head over heels. So it’s easy to see why they were so happy to celebrate, despite fears that the Obergefell ruling could be in danger. “It’s important now more than ever to really celebrate the freedom that we do have and the quality that we do have,” Cameron said.
Sunbeam also introduced the crowd to Delanie and Tamara Bacchus-Wright. They came from the Bronx to celebrate their love in Jersey City. Six26 is where Delanie, a New Jersey native, celebrated her coming out. And their love story is a modern one.
“One day at Home Depot,” Sunbeam started to say with a mischievous smile. She clarified that she was kidding and then told the real story, about how Delanie started to scroll through a dating app on a whim. She found Tamara’s profile, which led her to her Instagram account, which was devoted to her poetry. Delanie was taken with Tamara’s words, and took that nerve-wracking step of sending the first message, of putting herself out there without knowing how the other person would respond. Lucky for her, it was a match, and they’ve been married for a year.
Sunbeam read Delanie’s words to the crowd. “Just when we both started to give up on love, the universe had other plans, and here we are.” Delanie’s parents were in the crowd, looking on proudly. It was especially moving for her father, who wasn’t able to be at the wedding last year. It was a second chance to celebrate his daughter finding her person.
“Obviously, we’re doing it for us,” Delanie explained, “but also for the entire community.”
“I feel like we have to stand firm, show up, and show out,” Tamara added.
Sunbeam led the couples in a joint renewal of vows. “Today, I reaffirm,” she began. But she wasn’t impressed with their energy right off the bat. “Louder and more gay!”
The couples and crowd shared a laugh as the happy people on the platform repeated after their officiant. “Today, I reaffirm my promise to love and honor you all the days of my life. To be loyal, faithful, patient, kind, and worthy of your trust. Today, I renew my commitment to stand beside you, as a friend, lover, and spouse.”
Sunbeam then looked at the lovers to impart some wisdom. “I ask that each of you remember to continue to cherish each other as special and unique individuals. And most of all, be able to forgive each other and not hold grudges against one another. Always be there to give love, refuge, and comfort to each other.”
In that moment, the couples each shared a kiss, as a testament to their feelings and their gratitude for the ability to marry their soulmate, regardless of their gender or the body parts with which they were born. There was a champagne toast and a lively round of applause from everyone sitting around the bar and the tables surrounding the platform.
And, of course, no wedding celebration is complete without a cake. The bar managers and staff wheeled out a big cake with white frosting and colorful decorations, appropriate for the joyful vibe of the night.
But the ceremony couldn’t end without one more joke from Sunbeam. “It was on sale at ShopRite,” she told the crowd. “It has the wrong names on it, that’s why we got it for $2.88.”
