For Immediate Release

Contact: Maggie Ardiente, mardiente@americanhumanist.org, 202-238-9088 x116
Rachael Berman, rberman@americanhumanist.org, 202-238-9088 ext. 113

(Washington, DC – Sept. 10, 2013)—Free weddings services for same-sex couples are now being offered by humanist celebrants for active duty military personnel. This national endeavor is in support of the Jan. 2014 implementation of full spousal rights for same-sex couples in the military.

Scores of humanist celebrants certified by the American Humanist Association’s Humanist Society are waiving their ceremony fee as part of this national effort. A listing of celebrants participating in the program can be found on the Humanist Society’s website.

“Humanist Society celebrants have been performing same-sex marriage ceremonies for decades,” said American Humanist Association Executive Director Roy Speckhardt. “Even before these marriages were legally recognized, humanist celebrants have been a part of commitment ceremonies of all kinds. It is heartening to see that so many of them are willing to wave their ceremony fee to support the ongoing revolutionary change in the U.S. that is now giving all married military personnel the same legal benefits.”

Each celebrant’s participation is voluntary and they will need to be contacted individually. The program begins immediately and will continue until December 31, 2013. Participants will have an American flag icon next to their listing on the Humanist Society website.

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The Humanist Society (humanist-society.org) prepares Humanist Celebrants to lead ceremonial observances across the nation and worldwide, providing millions a meaningful alternative to traditional religious weddings, memorial services, and other life cycle events.

Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism, affirms a responsibility to lead ethical lives of value to self and humanity.