ABC News weatherman and "Good Morning America" anchor Sam Champion married partner Rubem Robierb in an intimate ceremony attended by his fellow anchors, including Robin Roberts, who is recovering after a bone marrow transplant.
Though the small affair wasn't focused on politics, Champion's marriage is one of the county's most high-profile same-sex unions.
The presence of his morning show colleagues suggested how much more mainstream acceptance same-sex marriages have gained. Just eight years ago, in the 2004 elections, gay marriage was seen as a deeply divisive national issue.
New York State Supreme Court Justice George J. Silver conducted the ceremony, which lasted about 10 minutes and took place in Champion's Manhattan apartment. Roberts read a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Champion received some advice from his "GMA" co-anchors during Friday morning's show.
George Stephanopoulos advised him to “remember every second.” Added Elizabeth Vargas: “Be present in every single moment. … As big as today is, it’s the rest of your life that is really amazing."
Champion and Robierb met through mutual friends several years ago in Miami, where Robierb lives. Born in Brazil, Robierb is an artist who shows his work in Miami, Atlanta, Santa Monica and New York. The two announced in October that they were engaged.
