"This has given us the ability to make that proclamation to the world that we are just like everyone else," Norman said. "We love each other just like heterosexual couples, and we'd like to proclaim that love publicly."Posted on 06/21/2008 5:54:26 PM PDT by SmithL
Derek Norman, 23, and his partner of four years, Robert Blaudow, 40, were married in California on Monday, moments after the state's same-sex marriage ban was lifted.
"This has given us the ability to make that proclamation to the world that we are just like everyone else," Norman said. "We love each other just like heterosexual couples, and we'd like to proclaim that love publicly."
However, their proclamation was more spur-of-the-moment than planned.
Blaudow, an employee of a biotech company Downtown, and Norman, a graduate student at the University of Memphis, were in San Francisco on Sunday morning for a conference when they realized the ban would be lifted Monday evening. They decided to get married.
With a 5:05 p.m. appointment, just four minutes after the ban was lifted, they became the second same-sex couple to receive a marriage license in Alameda County in the eastern San Francisco Bay area.
"It was very no-frills," Blaudow said. "We dressed nicely in some button-downs."
Outside the clerk's office, there was quite a scene. Reporters outnumbered the more than 20 couples scheduled to be married Monday night.
"We weren't doing it for any other reason other than we wanted to be married," Blaudow said. "We quickly realized as we sat there that something was going on around us that was bigger than what we were looking for ourselves."
Norman and Blaudow did not even make it back to their hotel before they began receiving phone calls and text messages from friends who'd read of their nuptials online, they said.
Despite the blessings and recognition from friends and family, their marriage is legal in only California and Massachusetts. They returned Wednesday to a state where their union is not recognized.
In 2006, Tennessee became one of 27 states that constitutionally define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Licenses issued to same-sex couples in other states are considered void.
"We're not really concerned about it, because we have a binding document, a contract from the state of California that says we're married," Blaudow said.
"If the state of Tennessee and the businesses in the state of Tennessee aren't going to recognize that, maybe it's high time they start, and maybe we're the ones to begin that and push that recognition."
Because of the state constitutional amendment two years ago, area gay rights organizations such as the Tennessee Equality Project are focusing on issues other than marriage.
"We're intent on following some battles we can win," said Jonathan Cole, co-chairman of the Shelby County committee of the Tennessee Equality Project.
The state group is working to enact anti-discrimination legislation that would help same-sex couples seeking benefits, Cole said, a problem Norman and Blaudow are already familiar with.
Norman's health insurance will expire in November. When Blaudow tried this week to add him to his policy, the insurance company refused to recognize their union, Blaudow said.
Blaudow said he thinks many will oppose his marriage -- and the marriage of other gay and lesbian couples -- based on religious grounds.
"We don't live in a religious state. We don't live in a theocracy. We live in the United States of America, where all people are supposed to be equal."
Despite the business policies and laws that do not acknowledge their marriage, Blaudow and Norman intend to move forward, together, with their lives.
They plan to hold a small ceremony for family and friends soon and are thinking of honeymooning later this summer.
Then, maybe children.
After the screwed up decisions they have made over the past few weeks, are we certain we want them to take this case now?
And kids? Now that men can have kids, I shouldn’t be surprised if they want a couple.
“This has given us the ability to make that proclamation to the world that we are just like everyone else,” Norman said. “We love each other just like heterosexual couples, and we’d like to proclaim that love publicly.”
So I guess the tax and insurance benefits are just incidental to that message.
I’m afraid it will only get worse. The more noise that anal grease makes the more it gets into mainstream. (Sorry for the visual).
The huge amount of same sex people getting married is really making for an economic boom in companies hired to support wedding celebrations.
So much so that there are years of business lined up.
I can imagine a queer man in a wedding cake bakery going nuts.
Heh.
I hope they enjoy their reech coreentheean leather in their Chrysler Corrrrrrrrdoba. Oh, wait, never mind.
FREAKSHOW!
I read the part where they say that it’s high time people and businesses recognise them as married
they go on about honeymoons and children
they are seriously delusional and for sure not one business has to give them benefits to both.
so they think that everyone has to conform with them, er no chance , i’d like to see them go to East TN in the smokies and see just how far they get together, try Newport for a start
what happens when CA has the vote and says they are not married now?
How are they going to say in their state that they are married when they are clearly not
again they are delusional
Same as this couple......
We’re with each other through thick or thin...
Peter out or peter in.
the media including Fox and other shows like Ellen try and brainwash us into thinking they are normal in their lives when clearly they are not.
Nothing about getting attention or getting benefits is there, no course not
I cannot get over where they say people in their state will have to come round to them and that they are going to start to get them to plus they will have children, they think they are like a normal straight couple
ER they can’t and they are not like a normal couple
Oh, to be a divorce lawyer in these great and wondrous times … opportunities abound. For years, those specializing in divorce law have been hurting, what with all the younger generation opting to live together sans marriage. Now, a whole new market is opening up! ;-)
I beg to differ Norman. You are definitely not like everyone else. You are a degenerate who lives a life contrary to the laws of nature and a healthy, moral society. Norman, you are a turd burglar.
they are a freak show but I am not surprised, just look at them and did you see the old women thinking they were getting married, the woman in the wheel chair looked all confused.
The women are looking like men the men act like women
they think they can have children
yep freak show alright, ever seen videos of these freaks on their parades , remember they say it’s their private life yet go on the parades
It is deviant behavior as ordered from God. It is from Satan.
I have nothing against gays in general (until the media and/or justice groups force it in my face.)
But on a basic level, why does there need to be benefits given to some guy’s err.. poke buddy? If they want to be monogamous, that’s fine too... but that doesn’t equal marriage.
By the way, I don’t think they’d make Newport... I’m thinking about Grundy County.
I have nothing against gays in general (until the media and/or justice groups force it in my face.)
But on a basic level, why does there need to be benefits given to some guy’s err.. poke buddy? If they want to be monogamous, that’s fine too... but that doesn’t equal marriage.
By the way, I don’t think they’d make Newport... I’m thinking about Grundy County.
After the long paws, I will say that is the most disgusting Wedding Vow ever.
nearly spat me cup of tea over my keyboard
what utter garbage they said .
nail on the head and said right to the point, if I ever had the displeasure of meeting these confused fools I would say exactly what you have said there
after I recover from my knee surgery I will be up in the smokies with my family, it truly is one of the most beautiful parts of the country
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