ASBURY PARK — Wiping tears from their eyes, Christian Fuscarino and Aaron Williams exchanged their wedding vows Sunday in Trinity Episcopal Church before a gathering of friends, families and supporters that included Gov. Phil Murphy.

Fuscarino, the 28-year-old executive director of Garden State Equality, New Jersey's leading advocacy group for gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual people, and Williams, a 30-year-old U.S. Marine corporal and founder of an organization that brings tennis to young people of color, wed in a traditional military ceremony.

Their wedding, just five years prior, would not have been legally recognized by New Jersey: same-sex marriage has only been protected here since October 2013.

In addition, the Episcopal Church did not perform marriages between same-sex partners prior to 2015.

But times have changed. Murphy, the governor, his wife Tammy and state politicians looked on as Fuscarino clasped Williams' hands and recited his vows: "My commitment is backed by generations of LGBT people who have come before us, and sacrificed more, so that we can stand here (without persecution)."

Fuscarino and Williams said in a statement that although their relationship exemplifies the nontraditional couple, they met "the old fashioned way," in a small, local bar.

In photos:Garden State Equality Ball at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park

"In that moment and the weeks that followed, we never imagined we would spend the rest of our lives together or live a life that seemingly pushes the barriers of what is considered normal and traditional," Fuscarino said in a letter to the Press. "We are not only two men getting married, but we are also an interracial couple."

"In the age of Trump, some would consider our wedding a strong political statement," he continued. "As untraditional as this may seem, we rarely think about it. We are just two people deeply in love, and the moments we share, selfishly, are for ourselves."

Williams said in the statement that he is used to turning heads alongside Fuscarino.

"I speak openly about Christian as my partner, just as other Marines talk about their families. I know that people are stunned sometimes, but it's important to be out for the sake of the LGBT community at large," he said.

Midway through the ceremony, as light from the fading afternoon sun filtered through the church's stained glass windows, Murphy rose to read from the Book of Matthew.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled... Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven," the governor recited.

Just a year and a half ago, Fuscarino's Garden State Equality office in Asbury Park was vandalized while he was inside.

Fuscarino and Williams say there is still hate against the LGBT community, but they want what other people across the country desire — to live openly and be treated with respect.

The couple plans on donating a portion of their wedding gifts to Garden State Equality and the USO, or United Service Organizations, which supports military personnel and their families.

In photos:Garden State Equality endorses Phil Murphy for governor

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Amanda Oglesby: @OglesbyAPP; 732-557-5701; aoglesby@gannettnj.com