Inside History: the First Same-Sex Couples on Applying for Marriage in Collingswood

Anthony Murabito and Keith Mullineaux have only lived in Collingswood for less than a year, but when the ban on same-sex marriage was lifted in New Jersey, the couple was officially the first to petition the borough government for a license.

Murabito manages Crumbs Bake Shop in Cherry Hill; Mullineaux is a phlebotomist at Aria Health Care in Philadalphia. They've been dating for three years, and engaged for two.

Although they won't be officially tying the knot until next week, the lovebirds have already become part of the media wave around the same-sex marriage excitement. 

We caught up with them for a brief Q&A about what it feels like to become a historical footnote in the borough.
 
PATCH: Was it important for you to be among the first couples to marry under the new law?

ANTHONY MURABITO: When Keith and I heard that Collingswood was going to allow couples to apply on Friday at noon, at first we were upset because I had to work at 1 p.m. and Keith was off from work.

On my way to work I decided to call my sister, who is a lawyer in Haddonfield, and she was like, "I can meet you there in five minutes to be your witness."  So I called Keith up and said, "Get dressed, we're going to do it today."

It was not important to be the first; we just wanted to get it in so we could get married early this week. We were nervous about the Supreme Court granting the governor's stay, so we wanted to get it in motion.

We are honored and pleased to be the first to apply in Collingswood, but really just excited that the Supreme Court shot down the stay and that we can get married with friends and family. 

PATCH: Had you considered marrying out of state, or just going the civil union route?

AM: We wanted to wait until New Jersey could allow us to get legally married.  We believe that we are just as equal as anyone else and wanted to wait until it was legal.  

PATCH: How are your friends and families dealing with the excitement? 

AM: The reaction has been crazy.  Since we were the first, we were interview by CBS3, CWTV and The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Associated Press picked up the photo of Keith and me applying for the license, so it has gone all over the country.

I have had friends and family members across the country tell me that they saw us online, on TV, and in their paper. We feel grateful to be given the opportunity to be the first couple to apply in Collingswood, and will always remember this special moment in our lives.  

PATCH: Tell us about your wedding plans. 

AM: Keith and I are getting married on Sunday, October 27, at my sister's house in Gloucester Township. It will be a small backyard ceremony with 40 close friends and family.

Since the wedding is happening in less than a week there is a lot to get done. We have a very supportive and loving family all helping us throw this wedding together. My employee at Crumbs, Brittany Lazar, is a pastry chef on the side, and is creating a fall wedding cake for us. 

PATCH: Anything else you'd like people to know about your story?

AM: Keith and I are beyond grateful to just be given the chance to marry and live our lives as ordinary married people.

Some people might not agree with our lifestyle; however, we are not harming anyone and just want to live our lives together, be happy, buy a house in Collingswood soon, and raise a family and grow old together. 

During the first week that same-sex marriage has been legal in the state of New Jersey, Collingswood Patch is talking to couples in the borough who are among the first to wed. 

Know someone who should be profiled? E-mail matt.skoufalos@patch.com.

For more in this series, read:

• Hearing Wedding Bells 23 Years Later
• Inside History: the First Same-Sex Couples on Applying for Marriage in Collingswood
• Same-Sex Marriage Could Come to Collingswood Next Week