Yep, it's Valentines Day. To mark this day when people celebrate love, GetEQUAL and Marriage Equality USA are staging protests across the country to show the inequality in our nation's marriage laws. Via press release:
Over the weekend and this afternoon, LGBT activists across the country took action at marriage counters and city halls across the country, drawing attention to the fact that loving couples – some of whom have been together for decades – are still living as second-class citizens without the right to marry.A list of the actions taking place around the country can be found here. There will be events in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wyoming.
There's already a report highlighting the events in Texas:
They know they'll go home empty-handed, even if it is Valentine's Day, but same-sex couples nationwide, including in Texas, plan to make a political statement today by seeking marriage licenses at county clerks' offices.And, a report from the middle of Pennsylvania:
"Marriage is a civil right, not a heterosexual privilege," said Tiffani Bishop of Austin, who is active in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
A number of Centre County advocates for same-sex marriage rights will make an appearance Monday at the county clerk's office in Bellefonte, 414 Holmes St., they said.Also, statements from the event organizers:
Sometime between 8:30 and 9 a.m., local members of the groups Justice League -- Activate! and GetEQUAL PA will arrive at the office to request marriage licenses for same-sex couples in the area, according to a news release.
The plan is part of a coordinated, national effort on Valentine's Day to draw attention to "the harms and impact (of same-sex couples') inability to marry," the release notes.
“Today, we're so proud of all the people taking actions across the country,” said Robin McGehee, director of GetEQUAL. “We're thrilled with how many people across the country have decided that enough is enough, and have committed to organizing in their own communities in order to draw attention to their desire to marry the person they love.”GetEQUAL will be posting photos and video on its Facebook page throughout the day.
Molly McKay, media director of Marriage Equality USA, said, “The actions that have taken place across the country are just one more way that we are bringing discrimination out of the shadows and into the light, highlighting the loving relationships that are thriving throughout the country despite government-sanctioned discrimination.”
UPDATE: Michael Lavers just posted a video at EDGE New York of a couple trying to obtain a license in New York City today:
