Because even though Brent and Jerry were legally married in the District of Columbia on August 26, 2011, their home state of North Carolina regards them as legal strangers. By legally registering their marriage license at their local Register of Deeds office they have created a public record that literally shows their love and commitment for each other (anyone can now look it up in the office or online).
This action – a new strategy in the WE DO Campaign – highlights how illogical and unjust it is that Brent and Jerry’s home state, where they live, work and pay taxes, denies their legal marriage, even as our federal government, 13 states, and the District of Columbia recognize it.
(Jerry and Brent at the Forsyth County Register of Deeds Office.)
We’re asking couples all across North Carolina to stand up like Brent and Jerry. On October 22, we’re launching a statewide effort of legally married LGBT couples’ registering their licenses to take a stand against Amendment One. Learn more and sign up here.
This is one more way for us to put pressure on discriminatory laws like Amendment One. One more way to say, this is our home and we’re going to keep pushing until we are fully equal under the law.
If you have questions about registering your license, please contact us at info@southernequality.org and we’d be happy to walk you through the process.
