Vice President Kamala Harris Reconnects with ‘Winter of Love’ Couple: A Remarkable Journey in Same-Sex Marriage History
In a touching reunion, Vice President Kamala Harris recently connected with Bradley Witherspoon and Raymond Cabone, a couple who played a significant role in the history of same-sex marriage. Their unique love story unfolded during San Francisco’s “Winter of Love,” a pivotal moment when then-Mayor Gavin Newsom challenged legal norms, allowing same-sex couples to obtain marriage licenses.
The couple, Bradley Witherspoon and Raymond Cabone, tied the knot on Valentine’s Day in 2004, during a 29-day period of groundbreaking decisions. Their union, along with nearly 4,000 other couples, faced legal challenges later that year when the California Supreme Court nullified the marriages.
What makes their story even more remarkable is that their officiant, Kamala Harris, was then the district attorney in San Francisco. The couple shared a heartfelt FaceTime call with Harris on the eve of their 20th anniversary.
“I never thought about getting married and what that would mean, but once we got the opportunity to do so, it meant a lot to me,” Witherspoon expressed during the call. “I think that was part of the emotion as well; being denied something for so long, thinking that it would not happen in my lifetime, and to see it happen.”
Cabone shared his surprise at seeing Harris on their wedding day, remembering the emotional ceremony and the shared tears of joy. The call allowed them to reflect on the significance of that moment for San Francisco’s LGBTQ community.
“I reflect on that weekend with such a fond memory of what it meant for so many people. But for the two of you, I mean, I didn’t fully appreciate how many people were in loving, committed relationships, and just legally were not able to seal the deal … and how unfair that was,” Harris said.
The couple’s journey began nearly 20 years before their wedding day when they first met at a McDonald’s in Detroit. Their love story, filled with challenges and triumphs, became an integral part of the LGBTQ history.
After their 2004 marriage was nullified, Witherspoon and Cabone took another step in their journey, remarrying over a decade later when the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex unions nationwide.
“It’s a really beautiful love story that has had an impact on history, and history has had an impact on your love story,” Harris remarked.
As the nation continues to progress in recognizing and embracing diverse love stories, the reunion of Vice President Kamala Harris with the ‘Winter of Love’ couple stands as a testament to the evolving landscape of acceptance and equality in same-sex marriages.
In a touching reunion, Vice President Kamala Harris recently connected with Bradley Witherspoon and Raymond Cabone, a couple who played a significant role in the history of same-sex marriage. Their unique love story unfolded during San Francisco’s “Winter of Love,” a pivotal moment when then-Mayor Gavin Newsom challenged legal norms, allowing same-sex couples to obtain…