New York City officials announced one couple from each of the five boroughs as winners of the city’s honeymoon package to celebrate the start of marriage equality.
Winners were randomly selected among couples that married in each borough on July 24, according to a statement Monday morning from Mayor Michael Bloomberg, City Council speaker Christine Quinn, City Clerk Michael McSweeney, and NYC & Company, the city’s marketing and tourism organization.
“Newlyweds Tina Johnson and Iris Gonzalez in the Bronx; Rafael Delannoy and Emilio Casarez in Manhattan; Gregory Anderson and Peter Talley in Brooklyn; Sacha Jessamy and Sharif Allen in Queens and Robert Portas and Charles Dominick in Staten Island were selected to receive the New York City honeymoon package, which includes a two-night stay in a luxury hotel, dinner for two at any Benmarc Restaurant, two tickets to the Broadway musical Hair, and passes to an array of cultural institutions throughout New York City,” said the statement. “All those who were married on Sunday will receive a gift certificate to Macy’s to celebrate their union.”
In response to overwhelming preliminary demand, the city devised a public lottery for couples interested in marrying July 24, the day the new marriage equality law took effect in New York State. All lottery entrants were accommodated at the city clerk’s offices on that day, and all the couples were automatically enrolled in the drawing to win a honeymoon package.
City officials report that 659 marriage licenses, an all-time high, were issued July 24. Most couples hailed from the five boroughs, but couples traveled from as far as Hawaii, Utah, Texas, and Missouri to marry, according to the statement.
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