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WATCH: Wedding of Seanmichael Rodgers and Damien Ramsey

There is a beautiful postscript to the story of Seanmichael Rodgers and Damien Ramsey (aka singer-songwriter Dy'Ari), first seen on R20 at the National Equality March and later in AOL/BlackVoices. Seanmichael and Damien were joined in a beautiful wedding ceremony in New York City last weekend.

The ceremony was held at The Monkey on West 26th Street and attended by about 80 guests. The ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Kevin E. Taylor, the New Jersey-based pastor, activist and author with Unity Fellowship Church in New Brunswick. Says Rev Kev: "It was so wonderful to be a part of a ceremony where so many people—coworkers, a mother, a pair of sisters, friends in droves—who were so invested in the couples love."

Leslie "ButtaFly Soul" Taylor delivered spoken word and  Ken Alston Jr. (Three Mo' Tenors) serenaded the couple before a standing room only audience. Atlanta-based blogger Darian Aaron writes: "This was a momentous occasion in their lives, but it was also special for me as this was the very first same-sex ceremony I'd ever attended. It also marked the culmination of some of the best coverage I believe I've written on a black same-gender loving couple," he adds, referring to an interview in his popular "Coupled Up" series which lead to a profile of the couple at AOL BlackVoices. This was the first same-sex couple profiled at the black news and lifestyle portal.

More photos and via Darian Aaron watch the ceremony AFTER THE JUMP  ...

Seanmichael Rodgers and Damien Ramsey Profiled at BlackVoices

You may recall the beautiful photo of New York City Seanmichael Rodgers and Damien Ramsey (aka singer-songwriter Dy'Ari) at the National Equality March in October. The couple are engaged to marry in March. Atlanta-based blogger Darian Aaron has featured the couple in his popular "Coupled Up" series and has now published a profile of the fab couple at AOL BlackVoices. This may be the first same-sex couple profiled at the black news and lifestyle portal.

There is a segment of the black population whose love is rarely acknowledged within the broader community, but it exists nonetheless. Seanmichael Rodgers and Damien Ramsey, a couple residing in New York City and engaged to be married this spring, is an example of the love that challenges "traditional" models. Seanmichael and Damien have been in a committed relationship for three years. Their commitment will ultimately lead them down the aisle in March. Over the past three years, there have been several Valentine's Day memories with each one competing to top the last. "It's like falling in love again every week," says Damien, "sometimes for the same reasons and sometimes for new ones."

The profile concludes:

It's been said that black men loving each other is a revolutionary act, given the pervasive homophobia that exists in American culture and the black community . The fear of losing the support of family and friends, a vital element to the success of black unions can become a major hindrance for a black same-gender loving couple. But even with support of family and friends, there's still no guarantee of a successful relationship when both partners are of the same sex.

It's to BlackVoices credit that they are trying to feature some of the diversity in our community. Kudos to BV. On the other hand, the dozens of hateful comments, spewing fundamentalist, Bible-based bigotry and even wishing AIDS, death and stoning on this beautiful couple ... not so much. And given the skyrocketing HIV rates in black heterosexual communities, sad and ironic that many black so-called Christians continue to associate HIV/AIDS with being gay. Their loss.

Darian's BlackVoices profile of Seanmichael and Damien  is here. Congrats.

Spotted @ NEM ...

... These two guys marching with Faith in America. That's the advocacy organization devoted to fighting religious-based discrimination founded by philanthropist and furniture guru Mitchell Gold,.

This pic via Rod 2.0 friend and Washington DC political strategist Miguel Ayala.