Ryan and Will: Participants in the WE DO Campaign who requested a marriage license on Friday, October 7, 2011.
Our relationship began in 2001 when we met as roommates in the rural community of Saxapahaw, NC. It may sound corny but there honestly was a sense that we were meant to be together, like somehow our lives had been leading us down separate paths towards one another. In the Fall of 2005, we stood before our incredible community of friends and family and pledged our commitment and love to one another. It was truly one of the two most beautiful and perfect moments either of us have ever experienced.
In 2006, we moved to Asheville where Will is now an English teacher at Asheville High School and Ryan teachers Special Education at Isaac Dickson Elementary. Here in WNC, our community of friends has continued to grow.
In 2010, we experienced the other most perfect moment. Through the process of open adoption, we were able to be present for the birth of our son. And now over a year later, we continue to be amazed how each new day seems an even greater miracle simply with him in it.
For many years, we have believed in marriage equality as well as basic equality for all however we have not done much in regards to directly standing up against institutional practices that deny people these dignities. Stemming from our love for one another and our son and our determination that he know that pride in one’s self, one’s family, and one’s friends is something worth standing up for, we decided to become involved with the Campaign for Southern Equality.
Additionally, our participation with this campaign is a direct response to the proposed anti-marriage amendment that will be placed before NC voters in May. We believe in the argument that discrimination should not be written into our state constitution, HOWEVER even if the amendment is rejected, discrimination will still be written into our state and federal laws. For this reason, we ask that those who we know and love stand up to fight, not against amendments that will simply strengthen existing legal discrimination, but to speak out against the very practice and existence of discriminatory law to begin with.
We thank the Campaign for Southern Equality for providing us this opportunity to peacefully resist indignity. We also give an incredible amount of thanks to the amazing people in our lives who inspire, encourage, and support us as individuals, as a couple, and as a family.
– Ryan and Will
