Talya and Marie

"I started thinking of marriage as something that allowed us to be together rather than as the bond that kept us together."

Talya and Marie met in 2009 at an arts boarding school in Michigan. Marie is from France and was in an exchange program at the time, assisting in Talya’s French class. They became close friends, and the relationship endured after graduation.

Over the next couple of years, Marie found opportunities within her own educational program to be in the U.S, and visited Talya at once or twice a year. She was granted a Fullbright award to fund a  Masters in Arts Education at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, Talya's hometown. From there they both landed in New York City - Talya attended college and Marie had an internship and eventually was hired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The two of them dated throughout Tayla’s time in college and then moved in together after she graduated.

What really pushed them to marry was the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 2013. The repeal of this law opened the possibility of permanent status for Marie, still a french citizen.   Before this, there was a constant fear that Marie could be deported back to France at any time. Once DOMA was repealed, and knowing that marriage was legal in New York State, the couple decided to get married right away. They had had so many issues over the years with visas, and their married friends just did not have the same obstacles. Whereas Talya had never really thought of marriage as a magical thing, she says “I started thinking of marriage as something that allowed us to be together rather than as the bond that kept us together.”

Their wedding was a quick one at city hall in New York. There had one witness, a friend of theirs from boarding school days. The two of them have thought since then of having a more elaborate celebration in the future.

Since their marriage, they feel more secure in their relationship with each other, and no longer worry that Marie could be sent back to France at any time. They recently adopted a dog, and have talked about having children. For now, Talya is working as an actor, and Marie works developing accessible exhibits for the Met.

Talya and Marie