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04/29/2008
Dudes head to Oyster Bay, fish for fairness
It's a familiar story in the queer activism world: A gay couple who's sick and tired of being denied marriage equality protests the shortsightedness by going down to their local government office to try and obtain a license to wed, and then holds an impromptu sit-in once they are inevitably denied. And it's a tale that played out again yesterday in Oyster Bay, NY, when a couple of thirteen years, Dan Pinello and Lee Nissensohn, went to their local clerk's office for this common act of peaceful civil disobedience:
Oyster Bay gay couple denied marriage license [Newsday]
For their nearly two hour demonstration, the fellows were rewarded with not only the same marriage status that they had prior to entering the building, but also with a ticket for trespassing. Because that's what thirteen years of love gets you -- a denial, two hours of lost time, a bum sore from sitting, and a citation. Ain't it romantic?
Meanwhile, a few towns over, Joe and Sue from Long Island, who've known each other for two weeks and are marrying only because Sue's impending pregnancy is forcing them to, were able to pay a few bucks, fill out a few forms, and not only get an unquestioned marriage license, but also a "congratulations" from the well-wishing clerks. And then they, ticket to marry in hand, drove home on the roads that are being just as financed by gay people's tax dollars as their own, abiding by the same laws that all citizens from all walks of life are forced to subscribe, all while completely oblivious to just how easily and mindlessly they were able to obtain the over 1400 rights and benefits of which tax-paying same-sex couples are denied due to marriage inequality.
Yea, we're bitter.
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