Gwen and Susie: Participants in the WE DO Campaign who are requesting a marriage license on Wednesday, October 5, 2011.
In June of 1987, mutual friends, who thought we might hit it off because of our mutual infection – the golf bug – introduced us. After a few weeks of waffling, we finally got together on the Fourth of July for our first date, a golf match made in heaven. Susie’s 40 year career as a barber finished up with 20 of those as owner of the Clip Joint on the campus of the University of Central Florida. Gwen is a sculptor and she and Susie are painters. Gwen’s environmental activism in Florida was akin to David (the environment) and Goliath (the developers).
In 2002 we began a search for a summer getaway in N.C. We remember driving up Hwy 126 to Nebo. With half the golf course to the right and the other half to the left, along with Short-off Mountain, the Linville Gorge and Lake James, we declared, “I think we’re home”. In 2005 we built a home Gwen designed, severed ties with Florida and have never been happier.
Together we started a weekly Al-Anon meeting in Marion where there was none. Gwen worked on the Substance Abuse Committee for the McDowell Health Coalition. The County accepted her guidelines for limiting the tethering and penning of dogs; and she recently convinced the County Commission to sign onto the state program for free spaying and neutering of pets owned by low income persons.
When we learned about CSE, we had to join their effort for equality. We want more than the blessing of our union. Marriage, along with a living wage, is essential to every American’s “pursuit of happiness.” We are “out” to all who know us, and to some who don’t, through letters-to-the-editor. If we all came out, I doubt there would be any family lacking a homosexual.
– Gwen
