Check out the gorgeous wedding photos, by Bethany and Dan Photography:
Stephen Alexander, the youth coach who has blazed a trail in his home state of Rhode Island as a trans man in sports, has married their longtime partner, Kate Sahler, in a small ceremony in their home state.
“We are thrilled and honored to have celebrated our love with an intimate ceremony surrounded by family and friends in a place called Providence,” the couple shared with Outsports. “We could not have asked for better day and can’t thank our community enough for their love and support.”
The couple did not want to take the last name of the other, so they settled on both changing their last names to LoveJoy.
The two met almost 20 years ago but fell out of touch, reconnecting at the 2015 Trans Philly Health Conference. Kate is a nurse.
Stephen isn’t currently coaching youth, but rather doing trainings with coaches, athletic directors, teachers and administrators on becoming more culturally competent in dealing with trans and gender-non-conforming youth and employees. He’s also training to be an official in local LGBTQ flag football and softball leagues in Providence.
As for their wedding day, Stephen shared this account with us:
The wedding was held at Roger Williams Park and included a whimsical Merry Go Round first look, fall flowers and foliage, a pre-ceremony dance in the sunlight at the Temple of Music, hot cider and popcorn, a stroll down Lovers Bridge, biodegradable confetti cannons, dinner and dancing at the Casino and a drag queen story time with the fabulous Naomi Chomsky reading ‘A Day in the Life Of Marlon Bundo.’
Marlon Bundo is the fictional gay alter-ego of a rabbit owned by the family of Vice-President Mike Pence.
Congratulations to the couple, and may you find a lifetime of joy in a rewarding and loving marriage.
Check out SB Nation’s powerful video of Stephen and their transition in a small New England town, from 2013:
