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“Our state is known for its kindness and hospitality to residents and visitors alike,” Tomblin said. “I encourage all West Virginians — regardless of their personal beliefs — to uphold our statewide tradition of treating one another with dignity and respect.”
Not everyone heeded the governor’s call.
Ray Lambert of the West Virginia Family Foundation said the governor had conceded to “sodomites” on marriage and that “Christians’ civil rights will be trounced by this new marriage law.”
And in Kanawha Co... the first same-sex couples applied for licenses...
Chris Bostic, 34, left, and David Epp, 33, both of Charleston, were the first same sex couple In Kanawha County to apply for a marriage license. Processing the aplication is Valerie McNiel, supervisor of Vital Statistics.
That's right. When the people of Maine did this by referendum (which WV doesn't allow), the petition presented to the Secretary of State said: "Do you favor a law allowing marriage licenses for same-sex couples, and that protects religious freedom by ensuring that no religion or clergy be required to perform such a marriage in violation of their religious beliefs?"
So, if this had been done by legislation, the concerns of the churches could have been handled that way. Instead, that concern is not adressed at all, one way or the other.
Same here. I support equal rights here but there is no way anyone will be able to force a church to perform one if they dont want to.
I agree, a church should not be forced to perform one if they don't want to. There's lots of other places that a couple can be wed. My wife and I were married 30 years ago in a notary's house that did weddings in their Florida room.
I agree, a church should not be forced to perform one if they don't want to. There's lots of other places that a couple can be wed. My wife and I were married 30 years ago in a notary's house that did weddings in their Florida room.
I myself don't really see this being an issue. For one, not a whole of gay couples are religious. Secondly, those that are, are probably members of congregations that are supportive of gay marriage and couples. I don't foresee a lot of gay couples rushing to the local Baptist or Catholic churches to have a wedding.
I don't even want a wedding. I'm not religious in any way shape of form. I want a marriage between myself and my fiance that protects us and our relationship with the government, and to not feel weird by calling him my "partner" or "boy friend" those terms just don't fit us. He will be my husband, not some generic term to make people feel less comfortable.
With that being said, I'm still in complete shock. I honestly can remember when I was younger that this day would never happen.
I never cry or show emotion, some say I'm emotionally dead... haha but I couldn't help but cry when I heard the news.
I myself don't really see this being an issue. For one, not a whole of gay couples are religious. Secondly, those that are, are probably members of congregations that are supportive of gay marriage and couples. I don't foresee a lot of gay couples rushing to the local Baptist or Catholic churches to have a wedding.
<snip>
While you're probably right, it only takes one couple seeing lawsuit $$$ to make an ugly scene we'd all have to watch play out on the news. I think the legislature should quickly enact a statute similar to Maine's referendum to prevent any "ambulance-chasing lawyers" from going after churches or clergy.
BTW, GHO, you can come home to get married now! Congratulations!
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