LA County Parks officials have backed off, and it looks like the "eco-sexual purple wedding to the moon" is back on at Farnsworth Park.
Unless something ELSE happens, the event starts gathering at 6 PM on Sat., Oct. 23, at Farnsworth Park amphitheatre.
Park officials had cancelled the event by performance artists Annie Sprinkle and Elizabeth Stephens, who have married each other and different aspects of nature in several "weddings" performed around the world. They had planned a "purple wedding to the moon" in Farnsworth Park, which was cancelled after parks officials read about the nature of the event in Altadenablog, citing crowds and public safety.
In a press release titled "LA COUNTY PARKS AND LAPD ALLOW BIG, GAY, ECOSEXUAL ART- WEDDING IN FARNSWORTH PARK TO GO ON," organizer Lindsay Kelley writes that officials relented when faced with constitutional legal challenges and ample evidence that the park and amphitheater can handle the number of people expected.
The release says that constitutional lawyer Terry Gross, who is also the Burning Man Festival’s general counsel, "forced the LA Parks and Rec Department to withdraw its cancellation, by demonstrating to the Parks and Recreation Department that the cancellation violated state and federal constitutions and laws -- just in time for the upcoming nuptials to proceed as planned."
Why the LAPD is mentioned in the headline is unknown, as LAPD does not patrol Altadena. According to parks officials and the event's own press release, it was the LA County Sheriff's office that expressed concerns about public safety at the event. Sprinkle and Stephens told the county to expect 500 people to show -- about half what a popular summer concert draws to the amphitheater.
"I think if we get a much larger crowd, it may be because of the controversy," said Stephens, whom we contacted at the home she shares with Sprinkle. "You know, 500's a big number for us -- we didn't get this number in any of our weddings."
One of the concerns raised was that a followup event in Santa Monica was labled for adults only, and county officials expressed concern about anything of that nature going on in a public park. It also didn't help that Sprinkle is a former porn star. Stephens said there was nothing to worry about:
"I have friends from high school who are bringing their children. There might be a moment or two that are a little racy, but we're not going to bring children to harm -- that's a line we won't cross ... we really don't intend to cause trouble, that's not our style, but I do think that Annie's history in the adult entertainment industry played into this fear, and the fact that we are a same-sex couple. No, this will be a family-friendly event."
At the same time, Stephens said, they're going to be very careful about what occurs: "We feel that any misstep may result in all kinds of punitive action."
Actually, Stephens said, she almost looks forward to an increased police presence: "If there's a police contingent at this wedding, this makes it more like a Kennedy wedding!" she said.
"We're so happy ... we love that space, we think the space is really beautiful. Our hearts are open, we're full of goodwill, and we think we'll be met with that goodwill."
There's another positive aspect to the controversy, Stephens said: "I'm in graduate school, and I'm studying systems of power. This will become a case history for me. They've done my dissertation a great favor."
Calls in to County Parks and Recreation were not returned by time of publication.
Photo: Beth Stephens, left, and Annie Sprinkle. Yes, we had to blot out the tattoo.
