Activists showed support for gay marriage while the Supreme Court heard the Obergefell v. Hodges case. (Photo by Miki J)

Several local wedding vendors are offering their services free to LGBTQ couples who want to expedite their nuptials, fearing that the incoming Trump administration will attempt to roll back protections enacted under the Obama administration or otherwise challenge a Supreme Court decision allowing gay couples to get married.

In the wake of Donald Trump’s electoral victory, some gay couples are trying to wed before Trump takes office on January 20th, 2017. Pop! Wed Co, a D.C.-based wedding company that specializes in funky pop-up ceremonies, is offering free license signings, ceremonies, and ceremony photography on December 16th and January 6th between noon and 5 p.m. for couples who need to get married before inauguration. Maryland photographer Mary Ella Jourdak offered to shoot expedited weddings for free, and part-time Washington wedding officiant Mike Newman has offered to marry LGBTQ couples without charge.

During an interview with 60 Minutes after the election, Donald Trump said he is “fine” with the legalization of same-sex marriage and considers the matter “settled,” while simultaneously pledging to appoint Supreme Court judges who will seek to overturn abortion rights (though those have also been affirmed by the court).

The stance represents a reversal from comments he made during a Fox News interview earlier this year, when he said he disagreed with the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges decision because it should have been left up to states to decide. At the time, he said he would “strongly consider” appointing judges with the intention of overturning the ruling.

Vice President-elect Mike Pence has also argued the legality of same-sex marriage should have been left up to individual states and was a staunch opponent of gay marriage when he served as governor of Indiana.

Outgoing senator Harry Reid recently said LGBTQ and other minority Americans’ fears are “entirely rational” after a campaign of “bigotry and hate.”

“I’ve heard a lot of uncertainty in my inner circle of friends about what this new election may bring, especially from the LGBT buds,” Jourdak explained via email. “It’s heartbreaking to think that fear has become a major motivator for many to put their weddings in the express lane, so I wanted to use my photography as a way to offer up a little joy.”

Jourdak’s offer also extends to heterosexual couples who are expediting their weddings because of fears their immigration status might prevent them from getting married after Trump takes office. The reception to her offer has been overwhelmingly positive, she said.

On their website, Maggie Winters Gaudaen, co-owner of Pop! Wed Co wrote: “I won’t even begin to explain how absolutely devastated and terrified we are about the results of this week’s election… We received several contacts after the election from friends and people in the community about how to expedite their legal marriages now, before the Trump administration. And that broke our hearts even more.”

The company lays out instructions on how exactly concerned Washington couples can go about quickly getting married.

“It’s so heartbreaking to have to deal with these issues again after we all thought marriage equality was a permanent reality. And I hope with all my heart that it will be the law of the land until the end of time. These notes are a ‘just in case’ measure for couples who are scared,” Gaudaen wrote. “The new administration is terrifying and unpredictable, and we’re standing with you all. Please let us know how else we can help.”

When gay marriages were first legalized in Washington, D.C. in March of 2010, Newman offered to perform same-sex weddings for free, officiating eight on the first day they were allowed. After demand slowed, he eventually started charging a small fee for simple ceremonies and a little more for elaborate ones. Since then, he has wed 52 gay couples and five straight ones. Now he’s again offering his services for free in light of the incoming conservative administration.

“I’m doing this to make a small statement about my support for the LGBTQ community in the wake of the Trump election. I have many close friends in that community, for one, but I also am a good liberal and want to DO something instead of just offer words of encouragement,” Newman told DCist via email. “That was my same feeling back in 2010—I have this D.C. officiant certification and a desire to help, so it seems like an obvious opportunity.”

The offer is not entirely without stipulations, however. Newman says over the years he has learned he must put a few restrictions on doing time-consuming weddings without a charge.

“If a couple wants to meet me somewhere near my office after work for a 5-minute ceremony, that’s totally free. I don’t even accept tips, just tell folks to make a donation somewhere…I’ve met folks at dawn at the Jefferson Memorial and at dinner at Zaytinya and behind the Smithsonian Castle. Just, you know, be considerate of my time,” Newman said. “I had a great time doing all those weddings back in 2010, and I’d love to do some more. It’s personally very fulfilling to feel like I’m making an actual difference in people’s lives.”

All three expressed a desire to take concrete action.

“As cheesy and cliche as it sounds, we’re all capable of making a difference. We all have unique skills and talents, and we can use them to support our neighbors, especially in times of uncertainty,” Jourdak said. “We’re all walking this path together, just don’t mind me if I come marching along with my camera to document the whole adventure!”