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photo by
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Kitty Santiago and Amanda Gallagher arrived at the Clark County auditor’s office in Vancouver Thursday very excited to receive their marriage license. The same-sex
couple was united in a non-binding ceremony last year, but now plans to make the union legal with a marriage ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012.
Freedom to Marry
c o n t i n u e d f r o m page 3
marriage licenses for heterosexual
couples, Harris and his partner of 39
years, James Griener, were finally
able to get their own.
“It's a very momentous occa
sion,” said Harris. “I feel like I am
included in society as opposed to
being on the fringes of society,” he
said. “It’s a great feeling — a won
derful feeling.”
Harris and Griener, who first met
walking along the Brooklyn prom
enade overlooking the lower Man
hattan skyline in New York, will be
married on Wednesday, Dec. 12,
2012(12.12.12).
Under W ashington state law,
couples must wait three days to get
married after receiving their license.
Many of the same-sex partners who
received licenses on the first day,
Dec. 6, planned to marry on Sunday,
Dec. 9.
While being interviewed and
photographed by reporters all morn
ing, Harris said his job was still to
ensure that the whole process ran
smoothly for couples, so that they
could be in and out with their mar
riage licenses as fast as possible.
Expecting an influx of people
seeking licenses, the C lark County
auditor’s office increased staffing
I think it demonstrates a
significant change in the attitudes
o f citizens o f this nation. I t’s only a
matter o f time before we have
marriage equality in the entire U.S.
and extended hours throughout the
weekend, including opening hours
on Saturday.
Staff encouraged couples to fill
out an online marriage license appli
cation before taking a number and
waiting to be called up to one of the
five issuing counters..
On the way out, Harris congratu
lated two other men who had a mar
riage certificate in hand.
“You sure made this process
easy,” one of the men replied.
Harris didn’t think a day like this
would come, he said. In the past,
when voters were asked to pass
same gender marriage on the bal
lots, it had always been defeated.
Now Washington is one of three
states where the people said yes, he
said. “1 think it demonstrates a
significant change In the attitudes
of citizens of this nation,” and “It’s
only a matter of ti me before we have
marriage equality in the entire U.S.”
A rainbow-colored flag danced
from a cool breeze in the govern
ment building’s courtyard as vol
unteers from Equality Southwest
Washington, Basic Rights Oregon,
and other advocates of the LGBTQ
community handed out information
for same-sex couples.
But not everyone within perim
eter was supportive of the move
ment that day. -
A man pacing back and forth
along the sidewalk nearby shouted
oppositions. “I'm against this 100
Tabe the
percent!” he said.
While not everyone may be on
board, many behind the same-sex
marriage movement are optimistic
that more people will come to realize
those involved in gay and lesbian
relationships are seeking the same
civil liberties granted to all citizens.
"Our country is on a journey of
understanding,” said Basic Rights
Oregon Executive Director Jeana
Frazzini. “As more and more people
talk to gay and lesbian friend and
family about w hy marriage matters,
they’re coming to realize that this is
not a political issue. This is about
love, commitment and family.”
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