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Local Life: 'Living Proud' Bruce Blackwell and Brandy Wight still celebrate Valentine's Day after 47 years

WUFT News photographer Wesley Rodriguez continues the occasional local life photo series with this gallery shot on Valentine's Day 2012.

Bruce Blackwell and Brandy Wight have been together for 47 years and say that they are proud to be gay. Blackwell, 71, and Wight, 97, met in 1966 and got legally married in September 2004 in their hometown of Martha's Vineyard, Mass.

Wight has some trouble seeing, hearing and walking but Blackwell helps him with his needs on a daily basis. "We're in it together," Blackwell said. Blackwell says that their love for art is what brought them together.

In their earlier years, Blackwell and Wight owned an art gallery in Martha's Vineyard where it showcased paintings and photographs from various artists. Famous celebrities such as President Bill Clinton and Audrey Hepburn had visited their gallery, according to Blackwell.

They now live in Gainesville, at Oak Hammock retirement community, where they say they plan to spend the rest of their lives together.

Wesley is a reporter for WUFT News who may be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news @wuft.org