For more information call 610-709-8800 or go to www.mcclv.org
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OF THIS EVENT
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Court House Action
SEE A PHOTO ALBUM OF THE COURTHOUSE
ACTION
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Service/Celebration
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February
13 & 14, 2009
February 13: Courthouse Rally
February 14: Interfaith Service, Marriage Ceremony
Friday, February 13
Marriage Equality Rally
10 AM
Lehigh County Courthouse
5th and Hamilton Streets
Allentown, PA
In an effort to advocate for marriage equality, same-gender
couples will apply for marriage licenses at the Lehigh
County Courthouse. All supporters of marriage equality are
asked to gather at the Courthouse to celebrate and advocate
for the value of gay and lesbian families.
Purple scarves have been knitted by PFLAG Mom Melinda Kohn.
All rally participants will receive a purple scarf to wear
as a symbol of unity on the issue of marriage equality.
Same-gender couples applying for a license are asked to be
in a relationship for at least one year and be okay with
media coverage. Couples will be denied a license but will
have taken a stand for social justice.
Couples must bring the following:
- - A Social Security card and a photo driver's license or
photo ID. If a non-U.S. citizen, a greencard, passport or
birth certificate in addition to photo ID.
- - If previously legally married and divorced, a certified
copy of the divorce decree is required (available in the
county where the divorce occurred).
- - If previously legally married and spouse died, a copy
of the death certificate, published obituary, published
funeral notice or funeral card is required.
- - $35 in cash. No checks or credit cards. Non-refundable!
- - If a same-sex couple does not want to pay the filing
fee, MCCLV asks that the process below be followed: Enter
the Marriage License office, share that you are a
same-gender couple, ask if you will receive a license (the
clerk will say "no") and then say, "see you next year."
- - Couples that want to spend the money to file and be a
part of the historical record may do so. If there is a file
in Lehigh County that has a growing number of denials of
marriage licenses for same-gender couples, it is a concrete
statement that we exist, we want equal rights and that we
are being denied those rights on paper. No one can say,
"gay people don't really want to get married anyway" (and
that is what some anti-gay groups say).
- - FYI: You do not need to be a resident of LehighCounty
to apply at the Lehigh County Courthouse.
To participate in the application process, contact MCCLV at
610-709-8800 or info@mcclv.org
Same-sex couples cannot get Social Security benefits if
their spouse dies. A same-sex spouse will pay more than
twice the inheritance tax than an opposite-sex spouse would
pay. Hospital visitation, medical decision-making, home
ownership and adoption are much more difficult for same-sex
couples to obtain compared to opposite-sex couples.
Currently, there are 1,400 federal rights and 700 state
civil marriage rights that gay and lesbian families are
denied. Thank you for joining in this Courthouse action to
bring attention to the need for marriage equality.
Saturday, February 14
Interfaith Worship Service
7 PM
Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley
930 North 4th Street | First Floor
Allentown, PA18102
This special worship service includes clergy from a variety
of faith traditions offering a same-sex marriage ceremony
and blessing of relationships. Rabbi Seth Goren (Director
of Jewish Student Life, Lehigh University) will be the
featured speaker. This evening will be an opportunity to
celebrate and support community leaders Dean Hiatt &
Robby Schotter who will be joined in marriage. A reception
and dance will follow the service. All are welcome.