Get Married for Equality

The Marriage of Amy and Laurel

Amy and Laurel met in college when they both became members of the College Democrats. They were friends for about two years before they fell in love.

They were celebrating their first anniversary when Laurel asked Amy  "Assuming we could, would you marry me?" and she said yes and asked Laurel if she would. Laurel said yes. Later that day Laurel explained that this was her proposal!

They are having a ceremony but it won't be a legal union since their state has not legalized same-sex marriage yet.

They ask people to donate to
Equality NC instead of using a typical registry because they have lived
together for a year now and do not need any more things.

"Why not ask people to donate to an organization that we support, and that supports the legalization of our marriage? We can't think of a more appropriate
gift."

View their wedding website here.

The Marriage of Deb and Mary Love

We have been together for 12 years and had a Commitment Ceremony in December 1997, after which we both changed our last names to Love because that is what we both want to be in the world. We had to pay to petition the courts to have the same last name, something that straight couples can automatically have for free after being married.

In August of 2008, we went to Long Beach, California (where we lived for seven years before moving to Asheville) and were LEGALLY married on August 13 by a very dear friend. When standing in line in Norwalk, CA (not a very gay community) to get our marriage license, we were congratulated more than once by passers-by who said “you deserve it.” This was a wonderful experience for us. We know that the day is coming when we will have the right to marry and have the federal benefits that come with it. 

The Marriage of Hugh and Steve

We met in December 1986 at a Christmas party, when we were both living in Atlanta. Since then, we’ve gone on to enjoy a unique and adventurous life together, most of which has been spent in Europe, where we lived for 18 years.

The Marriage of Jake and Ted

Jake and Ted got married (legally in Boston, MA) in early March 2009 with a reception later that month in Chapel Hill.

This picture shows them in New York on their five-year anniversary, just after they got engaged. Jake is on the left and Ted is on the right, and they are standing below the statue of Atlas bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders. Jake says that promoting equality is one of the best ways we can share the weight of the world.

You can read their story, find details of their wedding, and see beautiful pictures of their rings at their wedding website.

The Marriage of Kelly Margolis & Jacob Dagger

We will celebrate our love and our commitment to one another with a ceremony in Chapel Hill on December 27, 2008. We met in Carrboro in 2005, and our friendship quickly grew into a loving partnership. As we come together with our friends and family to celebrate our relationship through marriage, we want to remember all the loving couples who are deprived of the right to marry. We realize how lucky we are to be able to take advantage of the benefits and protections of marriage, and we will do all we can to extend these rights to everyone. Your tax-deductible donation to Equality NC Foundation will be a step toward recognizing all partnerships equally.

Please click here to go to Kelly & Jacob's wedding website.

Click here to make a gift to Equality NC Foundation in honor of Kelly & Jacob's wedding.

The Marriage of Mark & Robert Buchanan

Mark's Story:  Bob and I were married in Canada on May 8, 2008. We wanted to do this as a celebration of the ten years we had been together. We had a religious ceremony in 2000, but in the eyes of our co-workers and family it wasn’t the same as married. Our civil ceremony was held in a picturesque Bed and Breakfast in Vancouver, British Columbia. One of the witnesses was an 82-year-old woman who was visiting the guesthouse. She cried during the exchange of vows. Afterwards, she told us that the ceremony was beautiful and reminded her of her own vows with her late husband many years ago.

When we returned to North Carolina, I decided to change my last name to match Bob’s. Had we remained in Canada, that right would have been automatic. In North Carolina, I had to petition the court and have two people sign affidavits to my character and wait for my name to be changed. This was only the beginning of the documents we signed to try to protect each other legally in case of death or accident. All this would be unnecessary if there was marriage equality in the United States.

We support the work of Equality North Carolina and encourage others to do the same. We give through the State Employees Combined Campaign. Marriage isn’t for every same-sex couple, but if it is the right thing for you and your partner to do, each marriage takes us one step closer to equality.

The Union of Michelle & Julia

While there are many rights and privileges that we are currently unable to share with our heterosexual married counterparts in this wonderful nation, our hope is that someday our family will be awarded the same rights and privileges that our parents' families have held.