Alfaro, Anguiano, Arnedo, Calahorra, Cervera, Ezcaray, Haro, Logroño, Nájera, Camero Nuevo, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Camero Viejo

Rincón de Soto is a municipality on the banks of the Ebro River.  The town has a population of around 3,900 people on 19.86 square kilometers, with the its population having double in size from 1900.

History

The first same-sex marriage that took place in La Rioja took place in Rincón de Soto on 11 September 2005, and was between Montse Almendari and Marta Amo. The ceremony was officiated by Partido Popular mayor José Luis Arpón at the Ayuntamiento. It was one of twelve weddings the mayor would officiate during his time in office, and for him was just another wedding while acknowledging that it was a very special day for the couple involved.[1]

The couple had wanted an intimate and familiar wedding, but half the town turned out for the event with over 200 guests total at the ceremony held in the local Rincón de Soto town hall. The couple arrived at the ceremony in a blue 406 Peugeot. Both women wore pants and blazers. The ceremony lasted around 20 minutes, with each woman carrying a rose. No rice was thrown on the way out. The couple then went to Calahorra where the banquet was held.[2]

Some of the older people in the town were opposed to the wedding in 2005. They saw marriage equality as taking away from their rights. Other older people were indifferent, but thought these things should remain private or that they should just live together without marriage. Those in their late teens and early twenties were much more supportive of same-sex marriage and Amo and Almendari getting married.[3]

Women

Montse Almendari is a lesbian from La Rioja. When Montse Almendari and Marta Amo got married on 11 September 2005, they became the first same-sex couple in the region to marry. At the time of the wedding, she was a 28-year-old administrative worker. Her family hosted the wedding, and she wore a salmon-colored blazer and pants. [4]

Marta Amo is a lesbian from Valladolid. When Montse Almendari and Marta Amo got married on 11 September 2005, they became the first same-sex couple in the region to marry. At the time of the wedding, she was a 31-year-old factory worker. Amo´s parents, siblings and friends attended the wedding, with Amo wearing an ivory-colored jacket and pants for the ceremony. [5]

See

Ayuntamiento de Rincón de Soto, located at Plaza González Gallarza, 7, is the local town hall and government offices. The first same-sex wedding in La Rioja took place there on 11 September 2005.

References

Europa Press. (2018, July 1). Trece años de matrimonio homosexual en España. rioja2. Retrieved from https://www.rioja2.com/n-121691-2-trece-anos-de-matrimonio-homosexual-en-espana/

G, J. A. (2009, August 31). 34 parejas gays se han casado en la región desde el año 2005. La Rioja. Retrieved from https://www.larioja.com/20090831/rioja-region/parejas-gays-casado-region-20090831.html

La Rioja. (2005, September 12). ¡VIVAN LAS NOVIAS! “LOS ALCALDES DEL PP CUMPLIREMOS LA LEY”. InfoGays. Retrieved from https://inforgay.blogspot.com/2005/09/vivan-las-novias-los-alcaldes-del-pp.html

Sainz Jimenez, S. (2007, July 13). Veinte parejas gays se han casado en La Rioja desde la aprobación de la ley «Ya nadie se sorprende». La Rioja. Retrieved from https://www.larioja.com/prensa/20070713/rioja_region/veinte-parejas-gays-casado_20070713.html

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[1] (Sainz Jimenez, 2007; Europa Press, 2018; G, 2009)

[2] (La Rioja, 2005)

[3] (La Rioja, 2005)

[4] (La Rioja, 2005; G, 2009)

[5] (La Rioja, 2005; G, 2009)

Aldeanueva de Ebro, Alfaro, Rincón de Soto