1st same-sex wedding at West Point Chapel

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WEST POINT, N.Y., Dec. 2 (UPI) -- West Point Military Academy's Cadet Chapel in New York played host to its first same-sex wedding with the marriage of Brenda "Sue" Fulton and Penelope Gnesin.

The couple of 17 years said "I do" Saturday before family and friends, many of whom worked with Fulton on the repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, ABC News reported. The policy was ditched in 2011, about the same time President Barack Obama appointed Fulton to West Point's Board of Visitors.

Fulton was the board's first openly gay or lesbian member and one of the first women to attend West Point more than 30 years ago.

The couple had initially planned to marry in their home state of New Jersey when it became legal, but Gov. Chris Christie vetoed the law, saying same-sex couples could only have a civil union, ABC News reported.

While at a bar in Washington, D.C., friends asked Fulton and Gnesin why they didn't marry in New York, which legalized same-sex marriage in 2011.

"I looked at Penny, and we had a quick conversation, and I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me at West Point," Fulton said.