Courthouses, city halls ready for same-sex weddings Sunday
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OLYMPIA, WASH. (AP) - Two retired military women who fought for the rights of gays in the military were among the hundreds of couples who received their marriage licenses this week as Washington state's voter-approved law allowing same-sex marriage took effect.
Former Air Force flight nurse Maj. Margaret Witt, of Spokane, and retired nurse, Army Col. Grethe Cammermeyer, of Whidbey Island, both successfully challenged the military's ban on open service by gays and lesbians. They were first in line on Thursday in their home counties to receive their licenses with their partners.
"First, to be able to serve their country openly was in and of itself historical, and a significant step forward for our nation. And now to be able to legally wed the person they love is yet another historical milestone," said Anne Levinson, a gay rights activist who worked on the campaign to approve same-sex marriage. "They're remarkable women."
Gov. Chris Gregoire and Secretary of State Sam Reed certified the election on Wednesday afternoon, and the law took effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, when couples in Seattle lined up to pick up their licenses just after midnight.
Because the state has a three-day waiting period, the earliest that weddings can take place is Sunday.
"It will be an amazing energetic, joyous experience," said Witt, who will marry her partner of nine years, Laurie Johnson, on Dec. 15 in Spokane.
Witt, 48, was discharged from the Air Force Reserve because the military learned she was a lesbian, but a federal judge found her dismissal unconstitutional in 2010, and Witt retired with a full military pension last year. She is currently a physical therapist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Spokane.
The policy that banned gay and lesbian members of the military from serving openly, known as "don't ask, don't tell," was repealed last year, but Witt said there's more to be done.
Since gay marriage is still not recognized under federal law, Witt said that military family members are still at risk of not being recognized as next of kin by the military.
"I'd like to see all military members and their families recognized and taken care of," she said. "As far as we've come in the military, my job's not done."
Cammermeyer plans to get married Sunday at her home in Langley, joined by nine other couples who will also get married there before her annual Christmas party that will also serve as a wedding reception.
Cammermeyer, 70, earned national attention with her fight to stay in the Washington National Guard. She was fired in 1992 after disclosing her sexual orientation during a 1989 interview for a security clearance as chief nurse of the National Guard. A federal judge ordered her reinstated in 1994; the government did not appeal.
Cammermeyer said her ability to now marry Diane Divelbess, her partner of 24 years, was an "opportunity to be treated as a family and as equals."
"There's still a lot of inequities that state law can't take care of, but it certainly shows that we are one of many states now that are moving toward recognition," Cammermeyer said.
Last month, Washington, Maine and Maryland became the first states to pass same-sex marriage by popular vote. They joined six other states - New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont - and the District of Columbia that had already enacted laws or issued court rulings permitting same-sex marriage.
Referendum 74 in Washington state had asked voters to either approve or reject the state law legalizing same-sex marriage that legislators passed earlier this year. That law was signed by Gregoire in February but was put on hold pending the outcome of the election. Nearly 54 percent of voters approved the measure.
The law doesn't require religious organizations or churches to perform marriages, and it doesn't subject churches to penalties if they don't marry gay or lesbian couples.
In addition to private ceremonies that will start taking place across Washington state this weekend, Seattle City Hall will open for several hours on Sunday, and several local judges are donating their time to marry couples. Aaron Pickus, a spokesman for Mayor Mike McGinn, said that more than 140 couples have registered to get married at City Hall, and weddings will begin at 10 a.m. In Olympia, a group of local judges has offered to perform wedding ceremonies just after midnight on Sunday at the Thurston County courthouse.
Married same-sex couples will still be denied access to federal pensions, health insurance and other government benefits available to heterosexual couples because the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA, bars federal recognition of gay unions. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to take up gay marriage sometime during the current term. Several pending cases challenge the federal benefit provision of DOMA, and a separate appeal asks the justices to decide whether federal courts were correct in striking down California's Proposition 8, the amendment that outlawed gay marriage after it had been approved by courts in the nation's largest state.
Former Air Force flight nurse Maj. Margaret Witt, of Spokane, and retired nurse, Army Col. Grethe Cammermeyer, of Whidbey Island, both successfully challenged the military's ban on open service by gays and lesbians. They were first in line on Thursday in their home counties to receive their licenses with their partners.
"First, to be able to serve their country openly was in and of itself historical, and a significant step forward for our nation. And now to be able to legally wed the person they love is yet another historical milestone," said Anne Levinson, a gay rights activist who worked on the campaign to approve same-sex marriage. "They're remarkable women."
Gov. Chris Gregoire and Secretary of State Sam Reed certified the election on Wednesday afternoon, and the law took effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, when couples in Seattle lined up to pick up their licenses just after midnight.
Because the state has a three-day waiting period, the earliest that weddings can take place is Sunday.
"It will be an amazing energetic, joyous experience," said Witt, who will marry her partner of nine years, Laurie Johnson, on Dec. 15 in Spokane.
Witt, 48, was discharged from the Air Force Reserve because the military learned she was a lesbian, but a federal judge found her dismissal unconstitutional in 2010, and Witt retired with a full military pension last year. She is currently a physical therapist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Spokane.
The policy that banned gay and lesbian members of the military from serving openly, known as "don't ask, don't tell," was repealed last year, but Witt said there's more to be done.
Since gay marriage is still not recognized under federal law, Witt said that military family members are still at risk of not being recognized as next of kin by the military.
"I'd like to see all military members and their families recognized and taken care of," she said. "As far as we've come in the military, my job's not done."
Cammermeyer plans to get married Sunday at her home in Langley, joined by nine other couples who will also get married there before her annual Christmas party that will also serve as a wedding reception.
Cammermeyer, 70, earned national attention with her fight to stay in the Washington National Guard. She was fired in 1992 after disclosing her sexual orientation during a 1989 interview for a security clearance as chief nurse of the National Guard. A federal judge ordered her reinstated in 1994; the government did not appeal.
Cammermeyer said her ability to now marry Diane Divelbess, her partner of 24 years, was an "opportunity to be treated as a family and as equals."
"There's still a lot of inequities that state law can't take care of, but it certainly shows that we are one of many states now that are moving toward recognition," Cammermeyer said.
Last month, Washington, Maine and Maryland became the first states to pass same-sex marriage by popular vote. They joined six other states - New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont - and the District of Columbia that had already enacted laws or issued court rulings permitting same-sex marriage.
Referendum 74 in Washington state had asked voters to either approve or reject the state law legalizing same-sex marriage that legislators passed earlier this year. That law was signed by Gregoire in February but was put on hold pending the outcome of the election. Nearly 54 percent of voters approved the measure.
The law doesn't require religious organizations or churches to perform marriages, and it doesn't subject churches to penalties if they don't marry gay or lesbian couples.
In addition to private ceremonies that will start taking place across Washington state this weekend, Seattle City Hall will open for several hours on Sunday, and several local judges are donating their time to marry couples. Aaron Pickus, a spokesman for Mayor Mike McGinn, said that more than 140 couples have registered to get married at City Hall, and weddings will begin at 10 a.m. In Olympia, a group of local judges has offered to perform wedding ceremonies just after midnight on Sunday at the Thurston County courthouse.
Married same-sex couples will still be denied access to federal pensions, health insurance and other government benefits available to heterosexual couples because the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA, bars federal recognition of gay unions. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to take up gay marriage sometime during the current term. Several pending cases challenge the federal benefit provision of DOMA, and a separate appeal asks the justices to decide whether federal courts were correct in striking down California's Proposition 8, the amendment that outlawed gay marriage after it had been approved by courts in the nation's largest state.
Does the image of two men kissing make you angry? Does that threaten your sexuality? Maybe it turns you on a little?Â
It's unfortunate that such a long overdue injustice is tainted by unusual special treatment and wasted tax dollars. All from a group that has forever sang a song of "we only want equality". Kind of puts a stinky wrap on this present they've been seeking for so long.
 @HawkEye I like the idea of people being happy. And, they are allotted equal rights as married couples, like to visit their loved ones in the hospital among other things. Your christian ritual was soiled long ago. Anyone can get a five minute marriage in Vegas to a hooker.Â
Interesting facts about homosexuality -
http://www.faithfacts.org/christ-and-the-culture/gay-rights
 @theroadtolifeisnarrow Faithfacts.org? That's your citation? HAHAHAHAHAH
Why did they have to start handing out the marriage licenses at midnight? Why is City Hall opening at midnight to marry people? Where is this money comming from? You can't wait nine hours like everyone else? Is your marriage more important then other peoples?
@dmw2913 So true, I did not get this special treatment at tax payers expense when I got married. Its sounds like they want special treatment, not equal treatment. Why can't they wait nine hours like everyone else and save the tax payers some money.
@Hotrod - you didn't get that special treatment when you got married because no one had been preventing you from getting your constitutionally protected rights -forever. As soon as you get a civil right, a Constitutional right finally given to you that has been denied to you for more than your entire life - and you then don't get the same treatment that these folks did, THEN you can complain. Until then, it's nothing but sour grapes from someone who doesn't like gay rights.
@FormerMarineSgt Gays have every rights as heterosexuals since the beginning of time. This is special treatment, propaganda, etc. by our government at taxpayers expense. It should be operated at usual time, not special hours to try to get the numbers up as quickly as possible.
@FormerMarineSgt I guess you missed my point, this is costing tax payers money when money is in short supply. As a tax payer, I have the right to be angry over this.Â
 @dmw2913 I have asked that before.....no real answer, just hate in response.  he heterophobes don't like it when you question special, not equal treatment.
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@Sydthepiper @dmw2913 - 1) the 'special payments to gay married seattle employees' was an idea, a possibility. Then it was realized it was illegal and dropped.  (you really need to get caught up on the news). 2) the 'special treatment' of being open to allow people to get marriage licenses at the stroke of midnight was nothing unusual to 'gay'. Pretend that you hadn't been allowed to be openly Christian, own a gun, or whatever you hold dear for yourself - and couldn't have forever. Suddenly the day arrives when the government is willing to sell you the license to allow you to do it. They would be open at midnight that day too. So it's not special treatment that no one else would get.  The reason you think it is, well - is either because finally allowing someone thier civil and Constitutional rights happens so rarely, or you just hate gays and are finding ways to act like a jerk. I prefer to think that the rarity of people finally being granted thier civil rights makes this an odd occasion for you. Â
 @FormerMarineSgt
1.) I do keep up on the news. "They" only realized it when "they" were exposed in the media and saw the light of their stupidity.
2.) moot.
@FormerMarineSgt When I turned sixteen I was able to get my drivers license. That was my civil right. I had to wait until the office opened, I didn't get special rights. I got the same rights as everyone else. When I got my first gun I had to wait until the store opened. I had to wait I didn't get special treatment. It was the first time that civil right was given to me. And I had to abide by federal law and get their background check.
@FormerMarineSgt What are you talking about, they are recieving special treatment at TAX PAYERS EXPENSE. I did not get this special treatment when I got married. Please dont comp[ian about not having enough money to fix our roads.
@dmw2913 God questions. Why must taxpayers subsidized gay marriages? If you equality, start being fair and equal. The right to marry should be for all. Why are we restricting polygamy, incest and beast, etc? Because they are sick sexual orientations?
@STKOh yes, the slipery slope defence...
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Polygamy ought to be legal as long as everyone is aware of everyone else and all grant their consent. Again, none of my business, no need to restrict it apart from legislating n opinion on morality.
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Incest would never fly as any offspring stand a higher risk of birth defects and other healt problems. So, for the same reasons we don't let pregnant people drink alcohol, we won't allow any uncle dad, sister mom marriages.
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Beastiality is just plain wrong. Animals are unable to grant their consent, therefore unable to enter into legal contracts, of which marriage is one. Again, not going to happen.
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Lastly, these are all seperate issues and have nothing to do with equal rights afforded by the state being made available to the public. As seperate issues, your attempt at tossing it in with the subject of same sex marriage says you've been drinking the kool aid again.
 @what? or is it WTF?? address the issues of special treatment, if yoy can. Open extended hours of the county office to obtain a license....McSchwin trying to get illegal subsidies....what is next?
@STK Hold onto your hat. Polygamy marriage or legalize prostution is next. It is all about money for the government or getting more people to vote for you. What a greedy, perverse people we have become.
Kevin....did you delete one of my posts again?  No violation , my friend.
Who is paying the bill for the courthouse and the support staff to be open on Sunday? They'll be paid overtime, I believe. The taxpayer, of course. I do not want anybody who supports this complaining about their roads not getting fixed or services getting cut. The gay community wants equal treatment but they are getting special treatment. For this cause special accommodations were made, at great taxpayer expense, that were not available to me when I married. Equality would mean waiting until normal business hours like everybody else did prior to this event. Yes, I voted against redefining marriage based on my beliefs. You can bash me for this, but everybody has the freedom to vote how they want and have personal opinions I'm glad the voters got a say on this and, in my opinion Pandora's Box just got opened.
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@Hotrod --- wahhhh. The 'reported in a newscast' entire cost of Seattle allowing marriages in the courthouse is all of $17,000.  Hardly enough to worry about in light of the historic nature of a group of people finally getting the civil rights that folks have been denying them for far, far more than all of our lifetimes.     If something near and dear to you was FINALLY allowed, and the government had ot license it for you to be able to do it, you'd be thrilled that they'd spend a tiny amount of money to allow you to do it at the first possible second that you could legally. Â
@FormerMarineSgt Reading your comments, you bust on anyone who has a different opinion then what you have. Everybody going to have a diiferent opinion on this matter and I respect that. I will state my opinion anytime I feel like it, if you like it or not.    Â
@FormerMarineSgt You can tell that to the children who special programs got cut because lack of funds because gays want special treatment. I have children in school that these cuts affect them. As you say, it is only $17,000, but that $17.000 can go along way in helping kids and keeping these programs open.Â
 @Hotrod Its called history in the making, my friend. Lighten up.Â
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@skullcrusher This history you call it is costing the tax payers money when cities crying out for money. When I got married, I did not recieve this kind of special treatment at tax payers expense.
@what? Yes, I view this as special treatment. I was never offered this special treatment at tax payers expense when I got married.The cities cannot come up with funds to fix roads or for special programs for our children, but the cities can come up with funds to cover this. They can wait nine hours and save the tax payers some money. Please do not complain when their isnt enough money to fix roads but have extra money to pay for this.Â
@Hotrod Where were you when the governor spent more than $10,000 to refinish a table? Yet a groundbreaking law passes and the first time rights are afforded to a segment of the public previously denied is somehow viewed as 'special treatment' to you? That's pretty asinine.
I am proud of the progressive efforts being made in our state. We are leading the way. in so many positive ways.
The question is... How long until the first divorce? My guess is 4½ months.
 @Rockberry your thinking straight marriages, right?
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 @Rockberry ever the optimist there eh Rock? But yeah... with equality, comes equality
This article is missing the obligatory quote from the outraged Christian spokesman from some quaint sounding institution like, "Americans for Families."
 @lakeview Not all Christians please. I have a deep faith in God and I believe we are told to treat every one the way we would like to be treated and that we are all God's children. It is the extremists of every religion that give it a bad reputation.
 @Blevnangels Merry Christmas to you. I hope there are more people with your attitude out there.Â
 @lakeview There are many more like @Blevnangels , unfortunately it is the extremists who make the most noise and get the most attention.Â
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http://www.ucc.org/lgbt/ona.html
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http://www.gaychurch.org/find_a_church/find_a_church.htm
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https://www.facebook.com/christiansmisrepresented/info?ref=ts
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https://www.facebook.com/DemocraticNationalChristianAlternative
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http://www.thegodarticle.com/7/post/2011/10/clobbering-biblical-gay-bashing.html
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_776014&v=ezQjNJUSraY&src_vid=_toWufiWU6o&feature=iv
@lakeview @Blevnangels I agree with you both, let people live theirs lives the way they want to.Â
How many stories do we need about this? Enough is enough. We got the point on Thursday. Quit shoving it down our throats.
 @Smashquail Methinks the lady doth protest too much
 @Smashquail Yeah- Stupid historical events... stop happening!
 @Smashquail As many stories as it takes for everyone to understand that all human beings should be treated equally. That love builds and hate destroys!!! Don't be a hater.
 @Smashquail The collective "we" thing only applies to you and others, like you, who are tired of hearing about how our state made and continues to make historic steps in marriage equality; you may be sick of it, but clearly many others are not. You chose to click on the link rather than just passing the story by, so the only one shoving it down your throat is you.Â
@Smashquail And yet you took not just the time to click on the article but the time to spew forth such thoughtful insight on the inner workings of your so very compassionate psyche.
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I feel enlightened now. Thank you.
 @Smashquail No one is FORCING your orbs to read about History in the Making. Dude, get a grip.
@alexcrowley @Smashquail - it is amazing how much those who hate the idea of gay marriage protest about coverage of a human interest and news story covering a historic situation by complaining about 'it being shoved down thier throats'...
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All the while they could just ignore the news coverage
AND
All the while the've ignored the fact that they've shoved thier biases against gay marriage down everyone else's throat for months, years, decades.......
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I don't get that kind of person. They've lost the battle to prevent allowing gays to have the same rights that they have. It's time for them to realize that.
 @FormerMarineSgt  @alexcrowley  @Smashquail The battle is apparently over. These stories are all the same. I don't care if they still make them, just stop putting all of them in the top stories. I'm sure there are more interesting things going on in the world....
Case in point the article above; of how many gays have fought for our freedoms and rights. Now, can actually benefit from the simplest of the most basic rights - marrying for love. Receiving fundamental rights that have long eluded this small but powerfully potent minority. I say ((((RIGHT ON!)))))