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(From left) Shannon Lea Keating and partner Patricia Alford-Keating, a UCLA Student Psychological

Hundreds of people filled Bruin Plaza on Friday, spilling onto the steps and roof of Ackerman Union, to watch Patricia Alford-Keating, a UCLA Student Psychological Services counselor, and her partner, Shannon Lea Keating, rededicate their lives to one another in a public ceremony.

The event, which included the ceremony for Alford-Keating and Keating, was put on by the UCLA Student Coalition for Marriage Equality, and also drew support for the legalization of same-sex marriages.

The pair first exchanged vows 22 years ago, but California does not legally recognize their relationship as a marriage because both partners are women.

The coalition hosted a similar event last year with two men who already considered themselves married although the state does not recognize their union.

Alford-Keating and Keating’s ceremony took place just days before the Senate’s upcoming vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment, expected to be taken on June 6 or 7.

The amendment, if passed, would change the U.S. Constitution to specifically define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and would make same-sex marriages illegal throughout the U.S., though civil unions would still be permitted.

To become law, the amendment would need to pass with a two-thirds majority in the Senate and the House of Representatives, and then be ratified by 38 states.

Though 19 states have already approved amendments to their state constitutions that define marriage as a union between a man and woman, it stands little chance of passing in the 100-member Senate, where proponents are struggling to get even 50 votes, according to information released by The Associated Press.

Several Republicans oppose the measure, and so far only one Democrat – Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska – has said he will vote for it.

President Bush reaffirmed his support of the proposed amendment and his opposition to same-sex marriages in a June 3 radio address.

“Ages of experience have taught us that the commitment of a husband and a wife to love and to serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society,” Bush said. “Marriage cannot be cut off from its cultural, religious and natural roots without weakening this good influence on society.”

Reverend Dusty Pruitt, who presided over Alford-Keating and Keating’s vow renewal, scoffed at such perceptions. She contested the idea that allowing same-sex couples to wed actually undermines marriage.

“What threatens traditional marriage is divorce, not Patricia and Shannon’s 22-year commitment,” Pruitt said.

The crowd cheered and whistled as the couple exchanged rings, “I do’s” and a kiss. Spectators were encouraged to sign a petition in support of same-sex marriages.

“I challenge you to carry your support beyond this ceremony,” Pruitt said.

Many of the speakers, including the couple’s grown children, talked about Keating and Alford-Keating’s love and devotion for one another.

Most concluded their speeches by telling the couple they dream of the day when Keating and Alford-Keating’s marriage will be legal.

“In reality, Shannon and Patricia are already married,” said speaker Brian Chase, staff counsel for Lambda Legal, an organization which advocates for homosexual, bisexual and transgender people. “We will continue working for the day when Shannon and Patricia’s marriage will be recognized by the state.”

Ronni Sanlo, the director of the UCLA Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center, said the amendment would mark the “first time discrimination is written into the Constitution.”

“This will change if we stand together and demand marriage equality for all,” said Sanlo, who spoke at the ceremony.

People both on stage and in the gathering said the government should not have the right to restrict marriage to heterosexual couples.

“There’s really no reason not to (support gay marriage),” said fourth-year psychology student Joni Wu. “It’s not something you need permission for.”

With reports from Bruin wire services.