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Coalition spotlights marriage
Doug Shenatski \
Hair Club Client
from page 1
profile media events that generated substan
tial media coverage for equal marriage rights.
On the morning of May 5 a gay male
couple — under the direction of the
Coalition and flanked by a mass of
reporters — became the first same-sex
duo to officially request a marriage license
from Mecklenburg County.
As expected, Rev. Mick Hinson and his
partner of II years Gene Hinson (who has
legally taken the-former’s last name) were
turned away by Register of Deeds ]udith
Gibson. She told the men that the denial is
nothing personal just adherence to state
law, which restricts the granting of marriage
licenses to opposite-sex couples. She gave
the Hinsons a copy of the statute.
“1 take an oath and my staff takes
an oath to uphold the law of North
Carolina,” she said.
Afterward Mick Hinson, pastor of
the Metropolitan Community Church
of Charlotte, told reporters that the
couple knew they would be turned
away and the intent was to bring
attention to the issue.
“There is not justice in the world
regarding [same-sex] relationships —
period.” he explained. "A man and a
woman who go in to apply for a mar
riage license and get married have all of
these rights already established for them,
simply by going through this ceremony.”
A much-publicized federal study found
that marriage irhmediately confers more
than 1,100 rights and privileges to wedded
couples. For the Hinsons, who are raising
two children adopted by Gene, the entitle
ments related to child guardianship are of
particular importance.
“Had 1 not gone to a lawyer and set up
papers to where [Mick] had rights, he
would have had no rights because he’s not
legally my spouse,” Gene said.
Dr. Tara Moore and Vincent Magnarini
received their marriage license while the
Hinsons were being rejected. “I hate that
they were denied,” Moore told CfrNotes.
The Hinsons have no plans to pursue
legal action against the county.
Coalition for Marriage Equality co
director Shane Windmeyer described the
day as “splendid.”
“For once in the Charlotte community we
set the stage and had the opposition respond
ing to our timeframe. That’s why there was
only one pro.testor who showed up. We were
delighted by the reaction of the media.”
In an effort to keep the momentum
going, three days later the Coalition spon
sored a Rally & Family Festival for
Marriage Equality in the parking lot of the
Lesbian & Gay Community Center. The
event drew approximately 200 adults and
children who were treated to guest speak
ers and free carnival games and food.
The theme of the rally was “Defend,
Don’t Amend the Constitution.”
“We have the federal Defense of
Marriage Act and a North Carolina state
law that limits marriage to opposite-sex
couples,” Windmeyer told CfrNotes.
Around 200 people turned out for the Roily &
Family Festival for Marriage Equality.
“Constitutional amendments at either level
are unnecessary and only serve to fuel
hate and divide Americans.”
The Federal Marriage Amendment to ban
gay marriage was introduced in the U.S.
Senate last fall and has garnered the support
of President George W. Bush. On May II
state Sen. James Forrester (R-Gaston),
author of the 1996 anti-gay state measure,
introduce’d a bill that would rewrite North
Carolina’s constitution to outlaw same-sex
marriage. (See story on page one.)
Windmeyer believes the Coalition can
build a broad participant base to fight
these proposals.
"We have already seen that the mar
riage issue brings out people who may not
be involved in any other type of LGBT
activism. We plan on doing significant out
reach to allied communities to get them
involved as well. We need to start strate-
gizing now,” he added.
info : www.chariottemQrriageequality.org
Connie J. Vetter
Attorney and Counsellor at Law
Legal Services for
Our Community
^ / 704-'567-5530
■ . Vamaciore Building ,
’ 4037 E. Independence Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28205