Local (Key West) gay couple to challenge marriage law

Key West Citizen & Bait Wrapper ^ | February 13, 2004 | Mandy Bolen

[Elle Bee]

Local gay couple to challenge marriage law

BY MANDY BOLEN

keysnews.com

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ROB O'NEAL/The Citizen
Steve and Geoff Leonard-Robinson are among the same-sex couples requesting marriage licenses across the country to protest state bans on gay marriage.

KEY WEST -- The Rev. Geoff Leonard-Robinson and partner Steven Leonard-Robinson do not expect to get what they ask for when they walk into the Monroe County Clerk's Office this afternoon requesting the paperwork for a marriage license.

But the two Key West men, along with other same-sex couples in Key West, are joining a nationwide demonstration asking for equal rights for gay men and lesbians, especially as it pertains to the right to marry.

Geoff, pastor at the local Metropolitan Community Church, and Steven are following the example of the Rev. Troy Perry, who founded the MCC. He is encouraging gays, lesbians and bisexuals to call attention to discrimination in marriage laws by applying for marriage licenses during the week of Valentine's Day.

"This year of all times it's more important than ever to let people know about the inequality," Geoff said.

He expects his request and every similar request by same-sex couples to be denied today, and has already spoken with employees in the local clerk's office.

"We understand they are just in charge of applying the state statutes," he said. "So we'll say, 'Thank you, we'll see you next year.'"

Supporters of gay marriage rights say they are planning to continue asking for marriage licenses until discriminatory laws change.

"We know we will be turned away," Steven Leonard-Robinson said. "But we are hope-filled people. If we are turned down this year, we plan to come back next year, and we'll continue calling attention to the discrimination that exists against lesbians and gays, and we'll continue to share our love and commitment without the benefits provided to most citizens."

mbolen@keysnews.com

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Photo by: ROB O'NEAL/The Citizen
Steve and Geoff Leonard-Robinson are among the same-sex couples requesting marriage licenses across the country to protest state bans on gay marriage.

[HostileTerritory]

I think Santorum was mocked for claiming that the slippery slope led to man-on-dog sex.

[longtermmemmory]

FL abolished common law marriage in 1974. There is a legal niche for cohabitation agreements, particularly in the southbeach area. The occur generally when homosexuals buy a house "together".

You are absolutly right. However, (there is always one) the homosexuals are framing this debate based on "feeeeeelings". They are saying marriage is about sanctifying the person you love or is for when two people looooove each other.

The set standard of marriage of 1. age of consent 2. not closer than first cousin 3. one man one woman (father mother breeding/child raisig pair) 4 not married to another. By adopting only feeeeeeeeelings then all those are out the window. Homosexuals are just the useful tools (ala hitler's socialists) to disrupt the family and institute their ALI Model Code on Domestic relations.

If you oppose homosexual marriage you are against love goes the argument. What do children have to do with love goes the argument. Homosexual marriage is like interacial marriage the argument goes. It is all about feeeeeelings. There is no right, there is no wrong, there is no personal responsibility for our behaviors. (as long as it feeeeeels good.)

[weegee]

He was mocked for suggesting everything from same sex marriage to polygamy (both of which have already come up for legal challenges).

[weegee]

The truth of the matter is that homosexual couple don't want to be "living in sin" in the eyes of their families and God; that is why they want to be married.

Unfortunately they forget that sodomites get their name from the tale of Sodom and Gomorrah.

[weegee]

Imagine how much money is going to be spent on this issue.

Yes, just as they fought the sodomy statutes in the judicial arena rather than the legislative arena. Let the taxpayer pick up the tab fighting it.

[BJungNan]

Why should gays not be allowed to get married? Meaning - what complications are created for the government (I understand the societal concerns).

[HostileTerritory]

People really fixated on the man-on-dog comment, though. If he'd just talked about polygamy or same-sex marriage the usual suspects would have complained but the story would have died over the weekend.

[weegee]

What Santorum Really Said

His most horrifying observations were these: "And if the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual [homosexual] sex in your home, you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery." Furthermore: "Every society in the history of man has upheld the institution of marriage as a bond between a man and a woman. Why? Because society is based on one thing: Society is based on the future of that society."

[Chris Talk]

I wish they wouldn't use the word "church" to describe abominations like the Metropolitan Community Sodomite Association." Why not just "First Sodomite Assembly," or "First Synagogue of Satan," or "Sons of Sodom/ Daughters of Sappho Lodge" etc.

"Church" ought to be reserved for Christian assemblies.

[HostileTerritory]

I remember when the AP released the total transcript of the interview. I do not doubt that his comments can be edited down to a concise, articulate defense of traditional marriage, but that is not all he said.

[weegee]

In Defense of Rick Santorum: His Own Words

Transcript of interview.

[weegee]

He DID not get all of that flak over the dog comment. You can go through all of the old threads and very that fact.

[Elle Bee]

all of nthose 'rights' you've enumerated are already available

If your real agenda on the eve of St. Valentine's Day is to re-define the definition of marriage ....... then amend the Constitution

I think you are brighter than to believe what you have posted

.

[Elle Bee]

You're quite correct

it's all about the ability to be declaired a protected class

then they can litigate under Title

it's silly ...... but they like to play victim