For Gay Fiances, Local Venues Offer Mixed Reception

Michael Serao will be getting married in the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, one of New York’s most magnificent venues—yet it’s a location that he feels relegated to.

“It’s a shame that we had to go out to Brooklyn because some of the Queens venues were not very cooperative,” he said of his nuptials to his domestic partner, Jonathan, upcoming in September. 

Serao said he shopped two local wedding halls—one in Great Neck, and one in the Bayside-Whitestone area, that would not host the wedding. He declined to name the venues that gave him the cold shoulder.

“I do understand, it’s a very conservative neighborhood,” Serao said. He believes the venues feared losing business and their well maintained reputations among those who might disapprove.

Many venders do not have the same anxiety over losing straight business while gaining a gay customer base.

“We don’t ask for your sexual preference when you order balloons,” said Devon O’Connor, whose family has provided balloons for occasions in the Bayside area for 30 years with 718 Balloon Company.

Balloons are festive, and apolitical, he said.

Restaurant and catering company, , has the same attitude.

“We would cater to any wedding that would want to book a wedding,” said the manager, David.

The manager of , on Northern Blvd., had never before considered the question of hosting a gay wedding, but very quickly decided it would pose no issue.

“We have not even thought about it because it wasn’t a topic before,” said Adria manager Vinnie Malhotra. “I will say why not?”

Serao believes other local businesses owners will have to adjust to attract LGBT dollars.

“I haven’t seen any support from any business,” he said, adding, “There’s actually a lot of gay families that live in Bayside believe it or not—I have three on my block.”

It’s a population that would spend more than their straight neighbors at stylish stores in Bay Terrace, if they were sought after as customers, he said.

Serao believes the LGBT community will come to snub retailers that don’t market to gay shoppers. His wedding photographer, for instance, will have to be one that places display photos of gay and lesbian couples along those of straight couples.

“Retailers or any business should really use this as a way to show their support,” he said.