"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.
Can you say "Full Faith and Credit"?
I knew you could.
Seems like a lot of thought went into this union...
I wonder will they have to go back to California if they want to get divorced one day?
By “gay” I guess they mean these two homosexual pixies, right?
Ping while you're on the road.
” We live in the United States of AmNESIA . “
There , corrected .
It's not possible for them to love each other like a man and woman. God designed man and woman to unite as one flesh in sexual intercourse with the possibility of bringing new life into the world in marriage. Homosexual couples are unable to do this.
They want to "proclaim" their love in public? Well, well, well.... I thought the liberals told us what they did in the PRIVACY of their bedrooms is none of our business. Now they want to make it public. Isn't that a surprise.
Moral Absolutes Ping!
children children, equal, normal, have they lost the plot all together
er lets get this right
you poke another man up the arse, now that is not normal nor natural, it is disgusting and no matter how many times you have told yourself it is normal it is not.
You will not be accepted nor looked as as an equal while doing your sexual ways with another man.
sick
Now another thing you are not equal and you can not have children naturally, if nature intended for two men to be together then you would be able to reproduce, you cannot,
now get yourselves over to a shrink and get your mental state sorted
All this about they are equal and they think they are normal like others is just plain stupid.The media is not helping them nor are the homosexual mafia who are running around telling us we have to accept them
Blow Chunks Alert!!!! What a photo!
correct
my wife and I were just talking about this today and how the media are trying to brainwash us into thinking they are just like a man and a woman
They are not
and why do they always think that you have to be religious to be against this sick perverted act
I am not really religious and do not go to church but I find it not normal and sick perverted and twisted
They say it is their private affair then tell the world and go on homosexual parades acting all weird
another thing too
what is this well if people do not recognise their marriage they will have to change and they will do that
er two perverted mentally sick men poking each other up the arse and doing things to each other and they say the rest of the state which is millions has to come round to a handful of sick people
er no we do not
Funny you should mentions that,.....
I heard on the radio today that lots of previously “married” gay couples were getting “divorced” just like eveyone else.
So much for “happiness”.
then if they want people to think they are normal then move to the land of the loons MA as CA will be saying you are not married soon enough
Then come the tears of how they were married(NOT) and then cry about it knowing full well they were never married just like in MA where they think they are married yet even in that state over half do not look at them married
these people are delusional as well as perverted sick and twisted in the head
“Then, maybe children.”
.....oh yeah, that’s the ticket alright!....you’re damaged, so pass it on to another generation.
There’s something about extended body parts and excrement that just don’t seem to me to be anything to be proud of, let alone a reason to proclaim unity in marriage.
over half of the MA homosexuals who originally got married are now divorced
some went to other states such as RI and said they have to get a divorce there but the state of RI said but you are not married in this state , hence more confusion
just when are these people going to get it into their heads they are not married really
They leave MA and now you are just two queers sitting together in the car
I leave MA with my wife and am married anywhere in the world
I can have my children as I do they cannot.
they need to get a grip and either get help of get back in that closet to the doors can be locked
“We weren’t doing it for any other reason other than we wanted to be married,” Blaudow said.
Yeah right. He had no idea this would be made sooo public. And just this week he tried to add the other fella on his insurance (and was denied just in time for the article). What a coincidence. And the “equality centers” and the like just happened to be free right now so they can take up his case. They had no idea... they are just in love...
“We weren’t doing it for any other reason other than we wanted to be married,” Blaudow said.
Yeah right. He had no idea this would be made sooo public. And just this week he tried to add the other fella on his insurance (and was denied just in time for the article). What a coincidence. And the “equality centers” and the like just happened to be free right now so they can take up his case. They had no idea... they are just in love...
Queer as a football bat.
The Klingon cloak has been lifted, and it ain't pretty. If they want to bring a states rights issue to the front, now is the time. We need SCOTUS to take this up and rule now.
Charades, anyone?
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