On May 11, 18 couples applied for marriage licenses at the Mitchell County Register of Deeds in Bakersville, Madison County Register of Deeds in Marshall, and Buncombe County Register of Deeds in Asheville. Subsequent to the denials of licenses in Asheville, a group of eight individuals – including two participating couples and four of their supporters – conducted a planned, peaceful sit in at the Register of Deeds Office. This led to their arrest on trespassing charges.
Many of the couples had also participated in Stage 1 of the WE DO campaign at the Buncombe County Register of Deeds in October 2011. Several couples have had marriage ceremonies or are legally married in other states. Shuli and Betsy have been legally married since 2004 in Massachusetts, where they once lived. They moved closer to family in North Carolina as they raised their son, but North Carolina does not recognize their marriage. In 2008, Cindy and Laura were legally married in California. Kadee and Ashley celebrated their marriage ceremony in 2006 and have a son and daughter. In 2000, Loraine and Amanda commemorated their love at an outdoor wedding ceremony, and they reflect that, “Many people have said that if we consider ourselves married then that is what counts, but they fail to realize that the responsibilities one proudly assumes when marrying another is also a law given right that we, as a same sex couple, are not granted.”
Kathryn and Elizabeth, who participated in Stages 1 and 3 of the WE DO campaign, reflect on their reasons for taking action: “One is a personal reason – as an older lesbian couple, we want to have the 1,200 legal rights afforded to straight couples (i.e. Social Security, health insurance, etc.). The other reason is that our spiritual belief is that ALL people in our beloved country should be treated equally and with respect.” You can read more about Betsy and Shuli here; Kadee and Ashley here; Loraine and Amanda here; and Kathryn and Elizabeth here. During the third stage of the WE DO Campaign, LGBT couples will continue applying for marriage licenses through May 15 across the state.
