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MsTinkerbelly · 03-09-2011, 01:37 PM

Happy anniversary from DC
By Adam Bink

I picked up today’s copy of The Washington Post, to find a very fun article on the front of the local section:

Same-sex couples lead to marriage licenses doubling

An unusual thing happened on the way to the altar in the District over the past 12 months.

At least as many same-sex couples as heterosexual couples – and possibly more – appear to have applied for marriage licenses since gay marriage was legalized in the city last March.

The total number of applications more than doubled since the first same-sex couples lined up to get their licenses, from about 3,100 in the previous year to 6,600 during the past 12 months, said Leah H. Gurowitz, spokeswoman for D.C. Superior Court, which issues the licenses.

Although the court does not differentiate between same-sex and heterosexual couples in its record-keeping, in previous years the number of applications varied by only 100 or less. So virtually all the increase is due to same-sex couples, Gurowitz said.

Not everyone who got a marriage license lived in the District. Many couples came from Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware and other states farther afield.

The court doesn’t keep track of how many couples actually wed. The licenses have no expiration date, and the only requirement is that the marriage be performed within District boundaries.

Wednesday is the first anniversary of the city’s first same-sex weddings.

And the fire and brimstone is raining down from the sky!

The article goes on to include some stories of couples and how their lives have (and haven’t) changed. The last paragraphs I found really telling. Here’s Rocky Galloway, who married his partner:

He said they have faced no discrimination or criticism for getting married. “It’s been interesting meeting people, like when we’re with the kids, and they assume that you are in a heterosexual relationship and you correct them and say ‘My partner is male.’ They get right through it,” he said. “That is to the credit of the advocacy groups and the people of D.C. and the fact that we are very transient and many, many cultures come to live in this area. We’re more open and embracing than some.”

He acknowledged that there are still detractors, those who believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman and gay unions should have another name.

“I understand what they are saying, but by giving it a different name, they would be making it different and there should be no difference,” he said. “When you call it something different, that makes it different. States and municipalities that have domestic partnership laws define those relationships as something different. With marriage, people understand the level of commitment involved. That’s what I love about the term ‘marriage equality’ – it is giving others the same rights.”

03-09-2011, 01:37 PM	#667
MsTinkerbelly Timed Out - TOS Drama How Do You Identify?: ... Preferred Pronoun?: ... Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: ... Posts: 6,573 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 30,737 Thanked 22,907 Times in 5,017 Posts Rep Power: 0	FROM THE PROP 8 TRIAL TRACKER Happy anniversary from DC By Adam Bink I picked up today’s copy of The Washington Post, to find a very fun article on the front of the local section: Same-sex couples lead to marriage licenses doubling An unusual thing happened on the way to the altar in the District over the past 12 months. At least as many same-sex couples as heterosexual couples – and possibly more – appear to have applied for marriage licenses since gay marriage was legalized in the city last March. The total number of applications more than doubled since the first same-sex couples lined up to get their licenses, from about 3,100 in the previous year to 6,600 during the past 12 months, said Leah H. Gurowitz, spokeswoman for D.C. Superior Court, which issues the licenses. Although the court does not differentiate between same-sex and heterosexual couples in its record-keeping, in previous years the number of applications varied by only 100 or less. So virtually all the increase is due to same-sex couples, Gurowitz said. Not everyone who got a marriage license lived in the District. Many couples came from Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware and other states farther afield. The court doesn’t keep track of how many couples actually wed. The licenses have no expiration date, and the only requirement is that the marriage be performed within District boundaries. Wednesday is the first anniversary of the city’s first same-sex weddings. And the fire and brimstone is raining down from the sky! The article goes on to include some stories of couples and how their lives have (and haven’t) changed. The last paragraphs I found really telling. Here’s Rocky Galloway, who married his partner: He said they have faced no discrimination or criticism for getting married. “It’s been interesting meeting people, like when we’re with the kids, and they assume that you are in a heterosexual relationship and you correct them and say ‘My partner is male.’ They get right through it,” he said. “That is to the credit of the advocacy groups and the people of D.C. and the fact that we are very transient and many, many cultures come to live in this area. We’re more open and embracing than some.” He acknowledged that there are still detractors, those who believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman and gay unions should have another name. “I understand what they are saying, but by giving it a different name, they would be making it different and there should be no difference,” he said. “When you call it something different, that makes it different. States and municipalities that have domestic partnership laws define those relationships as something different. With marriage, people understand the level of commitment involved. That’s what I love about the term ‘marriage equality’ – it is giving others the same rights.”