Historic ruling leads to three same-sex marriages in Hillsville
By Michael Howlett, The Carroll News, Hillsville, Va. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Not only will
The effects were quickly felt in
"I had no idea until about
The
"I didn't think to tell him we were a same-sex couple and I think he was kind of nervous," said Terri.
"I knew the (same-sex decision) was pending, but I didn't realize I would be doing a same-sex marriage," said Goad, who has since done four more.
The couple had at one time contemplated getting married in
"
Although the couple, who raised four children, is happy their love is now recognized as much as that of heterosexual couples, there is a very important practical side to their union.
"I haven't had health insurance since 2003, and although Tia was working as a teacher, she couldn't claim me or my three girls on her insurance, just her and her son," said Terri.
"After being together for so long, it's nice to finally have the same rights as everyone else," added Tia, who has already started the process of making the necessary changes to paperwork involving insurance, taxes and other benefits that most couples take for granted. "We've been together so long and it's really nice to have the same rights everyone else has."
And although the recent court ruling has made for a big change in their lives, so much remains the same.
"Everybody already knew us as a couple. If you saw one of us, you usually saw the other," said Tia. "We're the most normal, boring couple you've ever seen. Our life together revolves around our children, their families and our business Rainbow Creations."
Tia added that her marriage to Terri becomes even more precious due to a recent story from
"It's awful to think that people could die and never be married to the one they love," she said.
"I never thought
The couple hoped to have their marriage performed by a minister, but couldn't find one willing to conduct the service.
"A friend's father is a preacher. He said he didn't have anything against Karen and me, but he just doesn't believe in it. He has a friend who is a preacher, but he wouldn't do it. I then started going through the yellow pages, but every preacher I talked to refused to do it," said Beth. "Maybe in five years, we'll renew the ceremony and maybe by that time we can make it a church thing."
Karen said she and Beth had "been thinking about (marriage) for a year" when they heard the news that same-sex marriage had been declared legal in
Honeycutt said once her office received the mandate, quick action was required to secure the proper form. The previous marriage license form listed the applicants as groom and bride with no boxes for the sex of the applicants, and had a box under bride's part of the form for maiden name. The new form list both applicants as spouse and has a box denoting sex for each one. There is no box for maiden name. In addition, the previous receipt for the license also listed bride and groom, rather than spouse.
However, Honeycutt thinks that's not the only changes in store for the legal system.
"The ramifications of this will be felt for years," she said. "If we recognize this type of marriage, I think we might have to recognize common-law marriages. What about people with multiple spouses, property issues, heirs, what if one spouses changes (his or her) name. Many laws will have to be tweaked and others changed."
While this historic-making occasion has made thousands of
On
"In 1992, I was appointed a Marriage Commissioner by the
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