Same-Sex Marriage Campaign Visits DeKalb Courthouse
Nobody was surprised when probate court clerks turned down five couples who tried to obtain marriage licenses on Monday afternoon. The We Do Campaign of the Campaign for Southern Equality organized the effort.
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Five same-sex couples tried to obtain marriage licenses at the DeKalb County Courthouse on Monday in a campaign designed to draw attention to Georgia's laws prohibiting marriage between people of the same gender.
One after the other, five couples stepped up to the counter of the DeKalb Probate Court office and said they wanted marriage licenses.
Mary Jones, an employee, told Rob Anglin and Jens Palsgaard of Lithia Springs that Georgia law does not allow people of the same gender to marry.
Anglin and Palsgaard said they really loved each other and wanted to make it legal.
"I understand that, sir, but it's the law," Jones said.
Anglin said that Rosa Parks helped usher in a major change by refusing to give up her bus seat during the Montgomery bus boycott.
"This is how we're going to do it," Anglin said. "We have to bring awareness to the issue." As they turned away, one of them said, "We'll be back."
Reporters were on hand to document the five couples' efforts, having been alerted by We Do, an effort of the Campaign for Southern Equality.
After the couples were turned down, they walked out of the courthouse to be greeted with cheers from about 75 supporters waiting outside.
During the month of January, We Do is trying to obtain same-sex marriage licenses in other Southern cities, including Hattiesburg, Miss.; Mobile, Ala., Morristown, Tenn.; Greenville, S.C.; Asheville, Wilson and Wilmington, N.C.; Arlington, Va.; and Washington, D.C.
Ralph Ellis
4:30 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
Do attention-getting events like this help the cause of same-sex marriage?
Mary
4:40 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
I don't know if it helps the cause, but it sure helps to remind the DeKalb county and City of Decatur elected officials and government workers that their salaries are paid by those law-abiding/tax paying citizens that were refused a marriage license. It's sad that my partner and I have lived in the city of Decatur for 6 years, own our home and pay enormous property taxes each year but will have to travel to Maine this summer to finally get married legally.
Ralph Ellis
5:53 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
Thanks, Mary. Good points.
Dave
3:06 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Hello,
Are you really tinking of traveling to Maine to get married ?
If so let me know how many are planning to attend and what your plans may be if you have not finalized details yet.
I may be able to offer a beautiful venue on a golf course overlooking a lake about 35 miles from Portland.
Best with your plans,
Dave
jimmie
5:38 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Pretty cheap real estate up there too.
jimmie
7:03 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
Stay strong Georgia. Resist the destroyers of traditional family values!
Oakie
2:51 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
@Jimmie: Just checking, you DO live in Decatur, right? Beware the non-traditionals!
Kay Clark
10:55 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Man, Jimmie. I really feel for you. It must be terrible to have such a weak marriage that you could feel threatened by people - who you would feel too phobic to ever hang out - getting married.
You poor little lamb.
And, seriously, what is a "family value?"
jimmie
10:55 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
nope oakie..wouldnt live in the armpit of dekalb perversion
jimmie
11:40 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
kay..you are deluded by disgust for the traditional value. my marriage is strong but my commitment to saving the traditional family is religious based..so kay, if im happy i wouldnt care if you destroyed society..idiocy
Jimmie is a fool
9:53 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
it's called civil rights..
jimmie
10:55 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
civil rights end when they destroy society...after all, why shouldnt you abuse your child..its a loving act right? sick folks need to cash it in
Rob
10:06 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
Jimmie, my fiance and I wish to know how any couple (gay or straight and religious or non-religious) showing their commitment to each other destroys traditional family values. Georgia will become only STRONGER when all people are viewed as equals under the law and in the eyes of their neighbors.
"E Pluribus Unum"
11:15 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
Mary, hopefully one day same sex couples will not have to leave the state to get married.
Rob, I agree with you completely.
Tammy
1:34 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Georgia always lags the nation when it comes to civil rights. It will happen, via the feds, one day.
dave
7:17 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
As usual, Georgia is way behind the times. It's the 21st century people, time to get with the times and stop with the idiot redneck/budweiser mentality level that abounds!
Charles Schwable
7:08 am on Sunday, April 7, 2013
As this is a old article I ran across, I read in disgust of all the gay sympathizers who promote bad behavior as that what gay right's are to slide their way into mocking normality.
Sylvia W.
9:14 am on Sunday, April 7, 2013
Thanks for reminding me to make a contribution to the Human Rights Campaign. I'm going to donate in your honor Charles...everyone deserves basic rights to family and love.
www.hrc.org
A Decatur Mom
1:18 pm on Sunday, April 7, 2013
Good idea! Make something positive come out of someone else's hate!