Ernie Apreza, former press secretary to Vice President Kamala Harris, and his partner Kyle Labarry tied the knot in Seattle on July 5 after nearly a decade together.
Their ceremony was a vibrant reflection of their lives and backgrounds, featuring Mexican dishes made from Apreza’s mother’s recipes and floral arrangements crafted by Labarry’s mother.
The couple, who met via Grindr in 2015 shortly after moving to Seattle, built a friendship that grew into deeper love over time.
Apreza, a Washington native, and Labarry, originally from Nevada, bonded with a shared sense of home and found each other on a dance floor a few weeks into their friendship.
Their relationship deepened through moves across Seattle, Denver, and Las Vegas, even as Apreza worked long hours on the Clinton and Biden–Harris campaigns.
Labarry supported Apreza emotionally and logistically through his busy career, later earning his pilot’s license and working in compliance for a gaming company.
Their wedding incorporated both cultural heritage and chosen family traditions, including a Chinese tea ceremony to honor Labarry’s Chinese and Korean parents.
Friends surprised the couple with a dance performance to Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club,” bringing the evening to life with queer celebration and joy.
The night ended back at the bar where they first met—now under a new name—symbolizing the full circle of their love story.
The couple now lives in Washington, D.C., with their golden retriever, Gigi, and anticipate growing their family through surrogacy.
In an interview with The Advocate, they emphasized the political and cultural weight of their union, coming at a time when LGBTQ+ rights face threats nationwide.
Apreza stated that their partnership is a declaration: “We are Americans. We deserve equal protection under the law.”
Labarry added that the freedoms they celebrate could be taken away, so remaining visible and vocal is essential.
With Apreza’s address having been requested by Vice President Harris herself, their wedding was both personal and symbolic—a reminder that queer love is powerful, proud, and here to stay.