The Ultimate Reversal

Trans-Marriage in the Midwest

By Stef Matthews


On September 12, 1969 a young couple, Richard and Marlene, were married in Nebraska by a justice of the peace. On September 13, 1969 the couple was married again in a church service. On September 14, 1996 (that's not a typo; we just fast forwarded 27 years) the couple, now Rachel and John were trans-married in a church wedding. You see, Rachel and John are transsexual and decided, after all of these years that they should be married correctly. So John picked out his groomsmen and tuxedo. Rachel picked out her wedding gown and bridesmaids and professed their love for each other, for a third time, with their family, friends and co-workers at MCC Church in Omaha. John has been living full-time for over a year and has his surgery scheduled before the end of the year. Rachel has lived full-time a little longer and they are still saving for her surgery. As they said in their wedding vows, "This time we are doing it for us and we're doing it right!"

Several months earlier the couple had both had their names legally changed and went to the court of records to have the original marriage license amended. The clerk told them then that was a first in the state for both people to change. Unfortunately, they couldn't change the rows that the names were listed on. So Rachel is the groom, and John the bride (what a picture that would have been!)

John and Rachel have three children, Rick, Maggie and Zac Maggie was the maid of honor and Zac the best man (Their eldest son, Rick, is in the service and stationed out of state and couldn't get leave to be there for the moment). Rachel's mother Elise, gave the bride away. Rev. Lewis performed a beautiful ceremony and everyone was aglow in the love that could be felt in the church. John and Rachel have been members of the River City Gender Alliance for a couple of years now and asked many of the members to standup at the wedding. All in all there were 7 bridesmaids and 5 groomsmen and a large crowd of well-wishers for the happy couple..

In every sense, this was a traditional wedding (although not a shotgun wedding as was rumored). There wasn't a dry eye in the church when they read their vows to each other. It was so very touching to see a couple that has been together so long still feel so much a part of each other. Of course, after the service, there was the traditional reception line, throwing the bridal bouquet, throwing bird seed at the married folks, and the tin cans dragging (no pun intended) behind the couple's car as everyone followed them down the streets of Omaha honking car horns to celebrate the happy occasion.

At the reception, Zac, their youngest son and best-man, got a little tongue-tied while proposing the toast and said, "I am proud to pall you my parents." But everyone knew exactly what he meant! There was food, music, wedding cake, drink, friends and good cheer at the reception. Some who had to work during the wedding arrived in time to party. The reception went well into the wee hours of the night (long after this reporter had slipped into something more comfortable - namely sleep) and the happy couple spent their honeymoon at a fancy hotel here in Omaha. The Wedding Suite of course.

Please join me in wishing this couple, whom I am proud to call my friends, the best in life, the best in love, and a long and happy life together - from this day forward "doing it right!"


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