Fiancés Daniel Sheehan and Matt Price shared their story about facing discrimination and revealed how Daniel’s 90-year-old Grandma Ginny became their beacon of hope.
In July, Daniel Sheehan and Matt Price were disheartened when a Christian wedding vendor in North Carolina refused to provide services because they were a gay couple. Nervously, they awaited the reaction of Sheehan’s Grandma Ginny Parasiliti. “This is exactly why she was worried when I came out,” said Sheehan. “I knew she’d be upset knowing what happened.”
The couple, both 31, based in New York City, shared their disappointing story with a family member, and soon the news reached Parasiliti. Demonstrating her unwavering support, she quickly sent an encouraging text message filled with exclamation points and emojis, and even shared a Tuscan chicken recipe.
“I have a new recipe for you. Tuscan chicken. I’ll send it to you. ”
Daniel Sheehan
Parasiliti’s instant and heartfelt response didn’t surprise Sheehan and Price. A staunch Catholic and first-generation Italian American, she has always been vocal in supporting them. “She’s a light in my life,” said Sheehan, recalling how she helped raise him when his mother was ill. “She’s outspoken in her support and has become a surrogate grandparent for many of my friends who had difficult coming out experiences.”
Price mirrored this sentiment, “She’s both sweet and fiery, a balance you don’t often find. She’s been wonderful to both of us and has been a huge support for our relationship.”
Courtesy of Daniel Sheehan and Matt Price
The incident began as Sheehan and Price were planning their wedding in the mountains of western North Carolina. They wanted to arrange ground transportation for their guests, especially the elderly and those with mobility issues. An innocent query to a local trolley rental company led to an unexpected and discriminatory email. The company inquisitively asked if their wedding involved two grooms.
When Sheehan and Price confirmed their same-sex wedding, the company’s representative claimed that marriage, as per their Biblical understanding, is sacred and thus declined to serve them.
Unfazed, Sheehan and Price chose not to engage with the vendor’s discriminatory stance directly. Instead, they wrote a Google review to warn other LGBTQ+ couples. However, the situation escalated quickly. The business owner retaliated through another email filled with vitriol, accusing the LGBTQ+ community of “pushing too far” and even blaming them for political shifts.
Price expressed his disbelief at the blatant discrimination. “This company is just 10 miles from where I grew up. It never occurred to me that we’d encounter something like this today,” he said. Sheehan added, “It was an emotional rollercoaster, and it brought so much to the surface.”
Both Sheehan and Price were left disheartened but not defeated. They realized that despite legislative victories like marriage equality, there’s still a long fight ahead against discrimination. “Years ago, marriage equality was a huge win, but our experience shows there’s so much more to be done,” Price emphasized.
Cindy Price
There are over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills currently proposed in various state legislatures. National protections for gay and transgender people are also under threat. In a recent decision, the Supreme Court allowed businesses to refuse service to LGBTQ+ individuals under certain circumstances, opening the door for broader discrimination.
“This makes us wonder, where does this end?” Price pondered. “It’s a stark reminder that the battle for true equality has a long way to go.”
Sheehan and Price also shared concerns about Project 2025, a policy proposal by a conservative group aiming to revoke LGBTQ+ protections if Trump returns to office. The proposal seeks to redefine sex discrimination laws to exclude LGBTQ+ individuals.
“For us, this isn’t just politics – it’s deeply personal,” Sheehan said. “Our rights to marry, work, access healthcare, and live openly are under attack. Our identities are politicized, and our rights are treated as negotiable.”
Courtesy of Daniel Sheehan and Matt Price
Sheehan and Price believe that everyone can help foster an inclusive culture. “By sharing our story, we hope to inspire more conversations about not just the challenges we face but the inclusive future we can create,” Sheehan said. “Inclusivity isn’t limited to any one generation – it’s a collective effort.”
Price concluded on a hopeful note, stating that although they have yet to find a transportation company for their wedding, they remain optimistic. “We know it’s going to be a beautiful event.”
