Former US President official witness at same-sex wedding

Former U.S. President, George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, were official witnesses at the recent wedding of friends, Bonnie Clement and Helen Thorgalsen.

On Sept. 21, Clement and Thorgalsen, partners for 12 years, were married in front of family and friends in a small private ceremony in Maine. George Bush Snr., together with Mrs Bush (presumably), signed the official marriage licence papers.

Maine is one of only 13 U.S states in which gay marriage is legal. For a same-sex marriage to be legal in Maine, the couple must marry within 90 days of obtaining a marriage licence from a local Government office. The ceremony must be witnessed by two people in addition to the officiant. The licence is then signed by the couple, the officiant and the witnesses and returned to the town clerk within 7 days of the ceremony.

Thorgalsen posted to her Facebook page a photograph of Mr Bush Snr. signing the licence.

Helen Thorgalsen via Facebook