The Central Electoral Board that handles the official document registry in the Dominican Republic reminds all that the Dominican Constitution does not recognize same-sex marriages. Any same sex wedding officiated in the Dominican Republic is symbolic.
The opinion is issued after former US Ambassador Wally Brewster carried out a symbolic marriage of two same sex persons at a hotel in Santiago de los Caballeros.
The Central Electoral Board (JCE) of the Dominican Republic issued the public clarification on Sunday, 3 November 2025, asserting that only marriages between a man and a woman are recognized under the nation’s legal framework.
The statement follows a social media post by former US ambassador to the country, Wally Brewster, who published an image on his Instagram account claiming to have officiated a same-sex wedding in the city of Santiago.
“It was an honor to officiate the wedding of José Fernández and Jeremy Gottschalk in the beautiful setting of Camp David, Santiago, Dominican Republic,” Brewster’s post read. “A night filled with love, dancing, Dominican food, family, friends, fireworks, and laughter.”
In its official communiqué, the JCE emphasized that the country’s legal norm is stipulated by Article 55 of the Constitution, which defines marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman.
The electoral body further reminded the public that, in accordance with Dominican law, only the following entities are authorized to formalize marriages within the country:
• Civil Registry Officers
• The Catholic Church
• Duly accredited religious denominations
The institution stressed that it has not celebrated, officiated, or registered any marriage contrary to the Constitution and national laws, and affirmed its commitment to maintain this position in the future.
The JCE concluded that the declaration serves to reaffirm the existing legal framework and highlight the obligation of all authorities to act in strict compliance with the Constitution and local laws.
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Noticias SIN
Wally Brewster Instagram
4 November 2025