Bisexual Woman and Straight Man to Protest Ohio Marriage Discrimination

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Bisexual Woman and Straight Man to Protest Ohio Marriage Discrimination

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Started 7 months ago by Walker
Latest reply from daddylevon

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Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Press Release:
Bisexual Woman and Straight Man to Protest Ohio Marriage Discrimination
October 4, 2011

Columbus, Ohio - Protesting Ohio’s constitutional amendment and state law prohibiting same-sex marriages, Columbus residents Tabitha Woodruff and Brian Davis will marry this weekend in New York State, a state that allows same-sex marriage. Davis is a straight male, and Woodruff is a bisexual female.

After hearing Ed Mullen, Executive Director of Equality Ohio, speak at an Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law forum, Woodruff was moved to marry in New York. Woodruff explains: “Because I am a bisexual woman, I never knew if I would be able to marry the person I love. There are so many benefits to being married, and I guess I lucked out by falling in love with Brian.” The couple is set to travel to New York on October 8th to obtain their marriage license and will hold a wedding reception in Ohio in March 2012.

Davis says he’s eager to marry the woman he loves and use his wedding to speak out against the inequalities the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community face. He sees equality as a timeless American value: “Many of my best friends are LGBT community members, and I believe that they deserve to find love and get married just as much as I do,” Davis explains, “I want to support them with my actions and my feet as well as my words.”

The constitutional amendment passed by ballot initiative in November 2004. Ohio law prohibits same-sex marriage and does not recognize same-sex marriages from others states. Iowa, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the District of Columbia allow same-sex marriages to be performed under state law.

Ed Mullen, Executive Director of Equality Ohio, says that Ohio’s failure to provide the freedom to marry to all Ohioans is a detriment to every Ohioan. Mullen explains, “LGBT citizens live, work, and spend a good deal of money in Ohio. Ms. Woodruff and Mr. Davis will now be taking their business elsewhere; this is a loss for our State.”

Equality Ohio advocates and educates to achieve fair treatment and equal opportunity for all Ohioans regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. For more information visit http://www.equalityohio.org or call us at (614) 224-0400.

Posted 7 months ago #
Coreroc
Egoville USA
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Although I fully support the ability for LGBT community members to have legal and formal weddings this one confuses me a bit. I understand that they have taken the money that could have been spent locally and will now support the NY economy with a portion of their wedding. I'm not sure that I understand the nature of the protest considering it is not a same sex marriage. Can someone point me to the hidden text outside of the fact Brian is one lucky dude! :)

Posted 7 months ago #
cheap
Westgate
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Davis says he’s eager to marry the woman he loves and use his wedding to speak out against the inequalities the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community face.

i bet that's not the first thing he wants to use the wedding for.

Posted 7 months ago #
Liner Notes
Short North
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Coreroc said:
Although I fully support the ability for LGBT community members to have legal and formal weddings this one confuses me a bit. I understand that they have taken the money that could have been spent locally and will now support the NY economy with a portion of their wedding. I'm not sure that I understand the nature of the protest considering it is not a same sex marriage. Can someone point me to the hidden text outside of the fact Brian is one lucky dude! :)

I agree. It's a great statement to make for the LGBT community, but it's still a marriage between a man and a woman. It would be a bit more earth shattering if say, the woman had undergone sexual reassignment surgery.

Posted 7 months ago #
Twixlen
Westgate, Columbus
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I don't get why this is deserving of a press release? Of a thread, even?

People who don't really have a cause and nothing working against them, are getting married in a different state. Wow.

Posted 7 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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I could be wrong, but I think the point of the press release was to bring light to the fact that LGBT is a four letter abbreviation and that these issues go beyond the standard same-sex marriage issues.

Sure, they'd have no legal problems getting married here, but it sounds like they'd rather make a statement to stand united with others in the LGBT community who do face discrimination.

Or at least that's my take on reading it.

Posted 7 months ago #
rdysetdisco

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one of the big arguments that normative gays use in support of marriage equality is the financial benefit it will bring to the state. the marriage business is multi-billion dollar, not only will the states receive money from the licenses (and divorce proceedings), but they will also indirectly benefit from more substantial wedding ceremonies, honeymoons, celebrations, etc. these two heading to another state, then, doesn't just show solidarity, which itself is nice, but actually prevents the state of Ohio from benefiting from their marriage financially.

unfortunately, focusing on things like the financial benefits of marriage equality skews the arguments and hides the fact that marriage is a state institution which is often only applicable to the few. those few are most often privileged, middle to upper class, predominantly white and possess the disposable income for the costs associated with the institution. by focusing on the money, or on marriage alone, for that matter, we ignore the reality that the definition of family, the legal status of dependency and the benefits associated with long-term partnership are antiquated and need to be completely overhauled, updated and built to encompass the variety that exists within our country.

Posted 7 months ago #
Coreroc
Egoville USA
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rdysetdisco said:
one of the big arguments that normative gays use in support of marriage equality is the financial benefit it will bring to the state. the marriage business is multi-billion dollar, not only will the states receive money from the licenses (and divorce proceedings), but they will also indirectly benefit from more substantial wedding ceremonies, honeymoons, celebrations, etc. these two heading to another state, then, doesn't just show solidarity, which itself is nice, but actually prevents the state of Ohio from benefiting from their marriage financially.

I agree that the monetary statement is the biggest one that they can make however in this case that is very flawed. The two were stated to be headed to NY just for the marriage license ($60) and then plan to return for the reception held in Ohio($??,???). Assuming they don't take a huyndred of their closest friends to NY with them they will spend more dollars locally in Ohio just to travel to NY and then will most likely have a decent reception here that will bring several thousand dollars to the local economy.

The true statement would be something like personally opting out of a shared insurance packet and filing taxes seperate still so that they don't recieve the benefits like that of the LGBT community members. If your going to make a stand then stand amungst those you are seeking to support. I know I do!

Posted 7 months ago #
daddylevon
Columbus
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They really did THIS to protest? Really? It's more common than you think: it's just that most don't broadcast it to make a point. I'm friends with several couples in which the wife is bisexual.

Now..if Brian was marrying...um..Tony...or Bruce..then i could see this as a protest.

Posted 7 months ago #