While many see Valentine’s Day as a clichéd occasion for weddings, for one couple in Washington, D.C., the date carried profound urgency. Facing uncertainty about the future of LGBTQ+ rights, D’Angela Howard and Antonia Jones chose February 14 as the day to solidify their love in the eyes of the law.
A Love Meant to Last
“I knew I wanted to marry her from the day that I met her,” Howard shared with an emotional smile. “So, I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. It was a great feeling for me.”
The atmosphere at D.C. Superior Court on Friday was festive and heartwarming as 15 couples exchanged vows, pledging their love and commitment in a ceremony infused with Valentine’s Day spirit. The courtroom was adorned with romantic decorations, reinforcing the significance of love and unity.
“Oh, I love it because nobody gets subpoenaed to come here,” remarked George Barbour, the Chief of the D.C. Marriage Bureau Branch. “Everybody’s here because they want to be here. Everybody’s happy. Everybody’s in love.”
A Union Amid Uncertainty
Howard and Jones’ love story began three years ago in an unexpected place—the Facebook dating app.
“I was like, ‘Why does Facebook have a dating app?'” Jones joked. But curiosity led to fate, and the couple quickly formed an unbreakable bond.
Initially, they planned to get married on their anniversary in August, but the current political climate led them to expedite their plans.
“With the state of the world and with Trump being in office, I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Howard expressed anxiously. The couple feared that the 2015 Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage might be at risk of being overturned under a conservative administration.
“I said, ‘Let’s go ahead and get it done now before he wakes up tomorrow and decides he wants to take away our gay rights,’” Howard added, reflecting the growing concerns of many LGBTQ+ couples across the country.
A Safe Haven for Love
For generations, the D.C. Superior Court has served as a refuge for couples whose love stories faced legal and societal barriers. One of its most symbolic displays is a framed copy of the marriage certificate of Mildred and Richard Loving, an interracial couple from Virginia who had to wed in Washington, D.C., in 1958 because their home state prohibited interracial marriage.
The Lovings later became the center of the landmark Supreme Court case that struck down laws banning interracial marriage, a ruling that paved the way for future marriage equality victories, including same-sex marriage.
Howard and Jones found solace in knowing they were following in the footsteps of those who fought for the right to marry the person they love, regardless of gender or race. Their wedding day came sooner than they expected, but they have no regrets.
“Now we have a great anniversary date,” Howard beamed.
Their love, like that of countless LGBTQ+ couples before them, is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of love prevailing in the face of uncertainty.
