Confusion and tension filled the air at the courthouse in downtown Columbus on Tuesday, as one by one, same-sex couples filed in to apply for marriage licenses.
The participation was part of a demonstration organized by Equality Ohio, dubbed “Families Warm The Heart.” Lynne Bowman, executive director for Equality Ohio, said the demonstration’s goal was to make people aware of the fact that same-sex couples cannot be married.
“We are asking for civil-marriage equality,” she said. “This is about the government treating all couples the same under the law.”
Some of the couples, like Byron Yaples and Steve Watson have applied every Valentine’s Day for years, but for Ohio State employee Jerry Ball and his partner, Michael Walton, this will be their first.
Ball and his partner have been together for three years and would like to join legally as a married couple, but cannot because Issue 1 was added to the Ohio constitution in 2005. Issue 1, passed in November of 2004, states that only a marriage between a man and a woman will be recognized by the state, and Ohio will not recognize the legal status of civil marriage for unmarried individuals.
Ball said his hope is that by revealing this ongoing issue to the public, Ohio voters will realize the deceptions of Issue 1 and the effect it has had on both the gay and straight community.
“It also affected single couples that aren’t married and have kids,” he said. “It definitely affected those who want to get married. Inheritance, hospital visitation, testifying against your partner and things that any other solution other than marriage doesn’t really address.
“We’re not allowed to participate in society the way straight people are, and it’s frustrating.”
According to the U.S. census, there are 280,000 same-sex couples in Ohio. In addition, the issue affects all gay individuals, whether they wish to be married or not, Bowman said.
“Religiously they can be married, but not by the government, which is the irony in all of this,” she said.
Laura Weinblatt, a junior in human development and family science and the student leader of Jewish Queers and Allies at OSU, expressed her enthusiasm for the demonstration.
“I definitely think it’s important for OSU to take part, and other groups like Jewish Queers and Allies, HRC (Human Rights Campaign), GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender group) and even other groups on campus not associated with sexuality could get involved to make it more vocal to people,” she said. “The main thing, I think, is to open your eyes and see that love between people shouldn’t be based on sex; it should be based on the person.”
Jeff and Casey O’Conner were the first couple who approached the desk, along with their 13-month-old son, to file for a marriage license, but were subsequently turned down. A few other same-sex couples did the same and received the same result. Before Ball and Walton got their chance to approach with their request, Magistrate Samuel Peppers firmly advised that all same-sex couples could not get a license and had to leave.
The couples left, but many tears were shed by both the individuals who had attempted to apply and those who had not.
“It hurts. It’s sad. And a little cowardly on their part not to be willing to say no to each one of us and to say that we’re interfering,” Ball said. “There was no one else waiting when we came in.”
