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06/28/2009
While we were away: Same-sex marriage comes to NYC (but not really)
The June 14 edition of the New York Post brought word of one same-sex couple who managed to slip through the cracks of the NYS marriage system and obtain a license to wed. Here's a brief look at how Hakim Nelson and Jason Stenson managed to do it:
The gullible clerk didn't seem to notice that both Nelson, 18, and Stenson, 21, have male first names.
They both had to present identification to obtain the license. Stenson used his state ID card, and Nelson gave a state Benefit Card, which he uses to collect food stamps.
By a fluke, Nelson's ID card has an "F" for female on it, because the official who issued it in April assumed from his appearance that he was a woman.
...
Ten days after obtaining their license, the wedding crashers returned to the office for the ceremony.
...
They showed another clerk at the marriage bureau their license, and he gave them a number and told them to wait.
Then a third city official, Blanca Martinez, took their IDs and the license. She printed out the marriage certificate and performed the quick ceremony, pausing to ask Nelson whether she was pronouncing "Hakim" properly. A friend served as a witness.
As they walked out of the building hand in hand, Jason said to his new spouse, "I think we just made history."
*FULL STORY: WEDDING CRASHERS: DUO FOOLS CITY INTO OKING 1ST GAY NUPS [NY Post]
All authorities are in agreement that their marriage is invalid, since New York state's marriage system currently only recognizes same-sex unions, and doesn't yet perform the same. But still, it's kinda cool to hear about young people futzing with a system that desperately needs a good futzing. It makes us feel all warm, fuzzy, and Whitney Houston "children are our future"-like.
Your thoughts
Hey Jeremy, the couple is actually straight. 'Nelson' is actually Kimah, a trangsgender girl.
"Stenson views Nelson as a woman, and does not consider himself gay."
Yeah, so it's not really a gay marriage, so much as a marriage between a man and a woman where they don't recognize the woman as a woman. So this is actually more about gender identity, I think that's the right term.
Posted by: Clicky the Fox | Jun 28, 2009 10:49:38 PM
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