Smithers-Greene » same-sex

Please take time to watch the post just…

Andy Smithers — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 05:07:25 +0000

Please take time to watch the post just below this one of our legal marriage in CA. This marriage caused no one any harm. No one can hate such a beautiful moment. No one anywhere in the US should fear gay marriage as an affliction on the holiness of matrimony. Any person, straight or gay, deserves equality in this civil society. This evening brings hope to many more Americans.

Third Anniversary of our California Same-sex Marriage

Daniel Greene — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:34:28 +0000

It’s important to recognize that Andy & I were already married by our rabbi on August 8, 2004, in the eyes of God and our close family and friends. Nonetheless, we commemorate today the third anniversary of our “legal” marriage in California on June 21, 2008. California began marrying same–sex couples legally on Tuesday, June 17, 2008, and Andy & I drove Friday night to get to San Diego so we could be married the first day we could. It was not just a political statement, since we were already married and still are, but we did it for political and legal reasons. We went to show California that same–sex couples demanded legal marriage. As it turned out, we were married by a sweet young man who had been deputized for the occasion and was as sympathetic to our cause as can be, and we were blessed to have a few of our closest friends and my mother there to join us. It was, as you can see in the video, a heartfelt, tearful, and joyful occasion. This should not be an ephemeral phenomenon. Same–sex marriage should become legal throughout the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. It’s way past due.

Daniel and Me had the pleasure to go…

Andy Smithers — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 07:18:27 +0000

Daniel and Me had the pleasure to go to San Diego and get married the first day of summer June 21, 2008. We wanted to do this as a statement of legally binding our love in a more formal way. The sad part about it is that same sex marriage has been taken away from those that want it now. As the courts fight over weather on not this should be legal, we are a few of the lucky ones that are. Happy Anniversary to my loving husband on this our third year of our legal marriage

U.S. Judge Overturns Prop. 8 In Gay Rights Victory! – Heard on NPR

Daniel Greene — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 01:09:08 +0000

U.S. Judge Overturns Prop. 8 In Gay Rights Victory : The Two-Way : NPR.

When I heard this on the radio in the car this afternoon, I could not help but beam with joy. I didn’t mean to have such an emotional reaction to the news; it just bubbled up from within. Regardless of whether or not the inevitable appeal against this ruling is upheld in the next hearing (which I don’t think it will be), this is a great step forward for equal rights.

Andy & I were legally married in California the first Saturday same-sex marriages were performed: June 21, 2008. Our marriage was upheld even after Prop 8. Still, it is meaningless where we live in Arizona. I have hope that this new ruling will set a precedent for similar rulings in other states.

I think the gay marriage argument is simple: opposite-sex couples have nothing to lose by same-sex marriage while same-sex couple have much to gain. The idea that “marriage is between a man and a woman” is Biblical at best and arrogant at worst. There is simply no reason a man and a man or a woman and a woman shouldn’t be allowed to marry if they want to. Separation of church and state; equal rights for all. That’s the American way.

Prop 8 is Overturned!

Andy Smithers — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 23:28:56 +0000

My faith in justice has prevailed! No longer will I worry if my marriage to Daniel Greene will be made invalid or less than that of a heterosexual couple.

Our California Same-Sex Civil Marriage Ceremony

Daniel Greene — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:42:04 +0000

Andy & I had already been married by our rabbi at Dor Hadash in San Diego on August 8, 2004, but we jumped at the chance to make our partnership legal in California the first Saturday they performed these civil marriages: June 21, 2008. We were married at about 5:30 PM by a deputy named Michael, whom I recognized from the gay community. My friend Paul took this video with my Canon G9 camera, my mom and Andy’s friend David were witnesses, and also present were my mom’s friend Honey and David’s boyfriend Rich. There was an assistant in the room as well.

At the time we were married, this file was too large to upload to YouTube, I didn’t have the software to facilitate closed-captioning it, and YouTube didn’t yet allow for captions to be uploaded to accompany videos. Now, a year later, “we have the technology” (to quote from the opening sequence of The Six Million Dollar Man), and I have the honor of reliving this moment and crying at the wonder of it all.

I just want to say this: Love is gr8. Repeal Prop h8!

Just Married!

Daniel Greene — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 15:01:57 +0000

Just Married!
Originally uploaded by Daniel Greene.

I’m posting this on the one-week anniversary of our legal same-sex marriage in California. Since I took it with my Sidekick and uploaded it to Flickr right after our civil ceremony, it’s been viewed (as of this writing) 199 times, had received 53 comments, and 6 people call it a favorite.

A million thanks to all who made it possible for us to get married legally!