On January 2nd, LGBT couples will apply for marriage licenses in Hattiesburg, Miss. as part of the WE DO Campaign.
These brave people take this act, knowing they will be denied licenses, as a show of love in the face of discriminatory laws that relegate LGBT as second-class citizens in Mississippi.
These couples from Hattiesburg area have shared their personal stories that you can read below. You can send them a message of support here.
Sara and L.B.
L.B. and Sara were both born and raised in the Deep South. L.B. started out in Mobile, Alabama and Sara in Purvis, Mississippi. Although both started from humble beginnings, their drive to help others and be productive citizens has led to their success. After ten years of full-time work and part-time school, Sara has returned to school full-time and will graduate in May of 2013 in Communications Studies. Sara plans to use her degree to promote non-profit organizations. Though the journey was long, L.B. graduated in 2004 from Medical School and is now practicing in the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
L.B. and Sara were both going through major life changes when they first began their friendship. They worked at the same company and were able to communicate their woes during this trying time. The solace they found in each other provided the perfect foundation for a lifetime of love, compassion, and understanding. It didn’t take long for them to realize they had found something special in each other.
Although it cannot be explained, their hearts and souls were captivated by each other and seemed to gently fall into alignment with their true meaning in life. They are now able to share their deepest feelings and thoughts without the fear of scorn. They can not only be who they are, but are also valued and loved for these very traits. Together they inspire a supportive environment of self-growth and confidence. They try to reflect these values and spread this love they share in their everyday lives.
In March of 2011, L.B. planned a secret trip to Orange Beach, Alabama. She knew that the white sandy beaches and blue waters of the Gulf Coast had always been an escape for Sara. L.B. packed their bags and planned a “kidnapping” after work one day. Upon arrival to a beachfront suite, LB revealed six gifts that each represented one characteristic of Sara that she dearly cherished. As the weekend passed, Sara opened these gifts one by one with her favorite being the label maker that represented her OCD qualities.
When the last gift was opened that Saturday night, they headed out to the beach with a bottle of wine to view the super moon, a phenomenon that only occurs about every 18 years. The moon appears the most beautiful, brightest, and biggest from Earth. As Sara stared in awe at the moon’s beauty with the sound of the steady waves and the ocean breeze against her skin, L.B. gently pulled a ring from her pocket and began to propose.
L.B. explained that their love was as beautiful and unique as the glittering super moon she kneeled beneath. She believed that she and Sara each represented one half the moon. Together they could shine more beautifully and brightly than ever before. She showed Sara the ring and pointed out the two half-moon shaped diamonds on either side and asked Sara if she would be her wife. Sara tearfully accepted and they set out to fulfill their dreams.
Although L.B. and Sara were married in Connecticut in May of 2011, they returned home to realize that in the eyes of their state they were nothing more than roommates. They were denied a name change at the Social Security office even though they presented a legal Connecticut marriage license. Sara had to check the single box on federal forms for college even though it was a lie. As life went on, recognition of the insignificance of their relationship and life to their state they so dearly loved became clear. The obstacles that LGBTQ couples face in the United States of America were personally experienced. L.B. and Sara took a vow to each other to take a stand in their town of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, not only for themselves but also for the generations of the future.
Leiana and Alison (piece written by Leiana)
Alison is a 35-year-old, Registered nurse from Gulfport, MS . Leiana is a 34-year-old esthetician, also from Gulfport, MS.
Alison and I have known each other for over twelve years, and have been together for almost ten. We have a home that we bought together in 2006. We try to live a self sustaining lifestyle; we grow our own vegetables, have several sapling fruit trees, raise chickens for eggs and are DIY in most areas of our life . We are both artistic but in different ways. Alison plays guitar and has a musical background. I enjoy painting, drawing, pottery, cooking and sewing. Our family consists of extended family and friends and several “Fur babies”.
How we met
We had similar friends but never really knew each other very well. It had been a couple of years since we had last seen each other and we both just happened to be out having drinks with friends. As the story goes, Alison saw me from across the bar and leaned over to her best friend Dennis and told him I was the girl she was going to marry; he just laughed. She didn’t listen and came over to speak to me. Initially I blew her off, but she was quite persistent in that she wanted to get to know me. The next few weeks Alison and I kept running into one another . I realized once I gave her a chance, that I wanted to get to know her as well. I’m so glad I did because she was quite right about our future together; we fell in love quite quickly. So quickly in fact, that she proposed three months into our relationship.
When you look at the two of us on paper, we are very much opposites. Alison seems to be more grounded and level headed, whereas I appear more artistic with my head in the clouds. But we bring out the positive aspects of each other. Alison grounds me and helps me to stay focused, which in turn helps my creativity. I help Alison tap into her creative side and encourage her to try new things. I feel that we have built a beautiful life together.
Our hopes and dreams
We want to have children in the near future to complete the little family we have created. It is important to us that if something were to happen to either of us, our children would be legally recognized as belonging to both of us. On our recent quest to build our family we decided it was time to see a fertility specialist. We were denied medical attention bc we were a same sex couple. When the doctor’s receptionist was questioned by me as to why, we were told he only treats married couples. Since we were not a married couple and we are of the same sex he would not treat us. In this day and age discrimination like this should not be happening.
We remain positive and know we will obtain our dreams of a family. Ultimately we also want to make Alison’s premonition about our future a reality. I want to be the girl she marries one day. We can’t truly make that happen until marriage equality is a reality in Mississippi and the rest of the United States.
Kristen and Jenna
Jenna, 25, is a senior physical education licensure student at the University of Southern Mississippi. She is from Picayune, MS, and is the granddaughter of the late Congresswoman, Margaret “Wootsie” Tate. In addition to going to school full time, Jenna is also a Senior Airman in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, stationed in the 403rd at Keesler Air Force Base. Jenna also plays rugby for USM and will graduate in May. She currently resides in Hattiesburg.
Kristen, 27, is a current student at the University of Southern MS in biological sciences. After finishing a B.A. and M.A. in English, Kristen realized a career in the arts was untenable and returned to school to complete the prerequisite courses for pharmacy school. In addition to going to school, Kristen also works full time as a pharmacy technician. She is also the resident conspiracy theorist, currently planning a pilgrimage to Dallas in November 2013 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of JFK’s assassination. Kristen is from Moselle, MS, but currently resides in Hattiesburg.
How We Met
Jenna was not something I was expecting. I was blissfully floating along through my last semester of graduate school, excited about the winter break when all of the sudden we met. As well paid as graduate assistants are, I’m sure it’s not surprising that I found myself back at my old retail customer service job. I had been gone for a while and upon my return met some new faces — one of them being Jenna. Since I had been a supervisor before, I knew all-too-well the lay of the land so my manager quickly put me to work. Since the schedules had been made weeks in advance unawares of my return, I found myself without a schedule. I was told I could have forty hours and to simply write in the shifts I would be working. Well, I couldn’t squander such an opportunity and set myself about figuring out Jenna’s schedule and taking it for my own. Little did I know this scheduling situation would become the basis for some well-intentioned “stalking” jokes later in our relationship.
Our Relationship
Jenna is the best companion I could have every hoped to find. She is a permanent fixture at the pharmacy where I work — bringing me lunch or just stopping by to say hello. She is attentive and thoughtful to a fault, often sacrificing her own needs. Together we have a yorkie-poo named Jaxsin and a beautiful cat, Jasper — we consider them our children. One of our favorite activities is travel. We have visited Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, D.C., San Antonio, Orlando, Memphis, Greenville – just to name a few. Our adventures will be taking us out of the country this summer as we embark on our first tropical vacation together to the Bahamas.
Since learning about the CSE’s campaign in the southern states, my interest was piqued, to say the least; however, when I heard that the action would be in Hattiesburg and would take place at the downtown courthouse, I knew I had to participate. In 2007, I was lucky enough to go on a Freedom Summer tour of Hattiesburg, led by one of the SCLC members from Hattiesburg, Ms. Peggy Williams. She took us all over the town – fifteen stops, total – telling us story after story of her harrowing experiences from that 1964 summer. On that Freedom Summer tour, Ms. Williams took us to the very same courthouse. She told us of her own experience, trying to register to vote and ultimately being arrested and jailed in the same courthouse. I would not be so presumptuous as to assume that the struggle for same-sex marriage equality equates to the same struggles African American citizens have endured throughout history and at its height in the 60s; however, I cannot help but feel a small parallel — that in the grand tapestry of civil rights Ms. Peggy and I will both be leaving our marks.
Jenna and I definitely hope to have a family someday, a family that includes human children along with our animals. Being able to get married would be an important step in protecting us and protecting our future family. We are thrilled to be participating and cannot wait.
Send a message of support to the couples here.
