Today's Sacramento Bee has an article about a young heterosexual couple who are fighting California's new marriage license forms because they refer to the two individuals marrying as "Party A" and "Party B" rather than "Bride" and "Groom" as they did previously.
Bird and Codding have refused to complete the new forms, a stand that has already cost them. Because their marriage is not registered with the state, Bird cannot sign up for Codding's medical benefits or legally take his name. They are now exploring their options, she said.
Bird's father, Doug Bird, pastor of Roseville's Abundant Life Fellowship, said he is urging couples not to sign the new marriage forms, and that he is getting some support from congregants and colleagues at local churches.
"I would encourage you to refuse to sign marriage licenses with 'Party A' and 'Party B,' " he wrote in a letter that he sent to them. "If ever there was a time for the people of the United States to stand up and let their voices be heard – this is that time."
The Pacific Justice Institute, an organization that specializes in "the defense of religious freedom," is backing up this couple in their quest to rewrite the California marriage license.
"Those who support (same-sex marriage) say it has no impact on heterosexuals," said Brad Dacus of the Pacific Justice Institute. "This debunks that argument."
This same organization has filed a complaint with PG&E over their opposition to Proposition 8, which would overturn the State Supreme Court decision on marriage equality.
"It is outrageous that a mammoth utility used my money to undermine the values of families in my community," said Dacus, who is the president of the Pacific Justice Institute.
They recommend that individuals who disagree with PG&E's stand should choose another electric or gas provider ... not so difficult to do.
The Pacific Justice Institute issued a press release on the couple described in the Sacramento Bee article.
"The view that gay marriage does not take anything away from traditional married couples is a denial of the legal realities," stated Kevin Snider, PJI's Chief Counsel.
The term that comes foremost to the mind in reading all this is: Get A Life. Is it really the end of the word that your marriage license reads "Party A" and "Party B" rather than "Bride" and "Groom"? Is that truly "taking something away" from heterosexual couples?
Maybe I should call the Pacific Justice Institute because my Washington, DC marriage license lists the name of the "officiant" rather than the "minister."