Be my valentine? Not in our state.

Valentine's Day. A moment to pause and  celebrate the love , affection, and enduring commitment you share with your significant other. That is unless you live in a place where gay individuals, couples, and their children are dehumanized and denied basic rights because of the fear, ignorance, and apathy of our political leaders and straight citizenry.

In that case, it's a great day for some civil disobedience. See below which I received today from Soulforce. Also note today's NY Times story.

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The following text is modified from an article written by Soulforce organizer Chris Hubble, and originally published in Out Front Colorado:

There may be no contemporary narrative more compelling for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people than Valentine's Day. However commercialized this romantic icon has become, couples still fervently celebrate it. On this day, too, LGBTs subtly remind ourselves (and everyone else) just how "mainstream" we really are. We plan commitment ceremonies, trade sentimental gifts, deliver extravagant bouquets of roses, consume voluminous quantities of chocolate, and spend profligate amounts on restaurant dinner bills ... just like everyone else!

But Valentine's Day also evokes a mythological, historical narrative which tells the story of a civil resister of an oppressive regime seeking to deny its citizens' rights. When the Roman Emperor Claudius II sought more soldiers for his brutal military campaigns, he tried to deny young Roman men the right to marry -- apparently believing that single men might be more easily persuaded to join his legions. Valentine, a Christian priest living in a pagan world, defied the emperor's decree and continued to observe the holiday honoring Juno, Roman goddess of marriage, by secretly marrying young Roman couples. When his defiance was discovered, Valentine was jailed - and subsequently died on February 14, 269 C.E.

This year, in addition to celebrating Valentine's Day in the conventional way, Englewood, Colorado couple and Soulforce volunteers Kate Burns and Sheila Schroeder also remember this historic St. Valentine. You see, last September 24th, they were arrested for staging a sit-in at the Denver Clerk and Recorder office after being denied a marriage license. For this courageous act of civil disobedience, Kate and Sheila went to court yesterday and a hearing was set for February 28, with the actual trial set for April 13 and 14, 2008. Numerous local religious leaders have already submitted affidavits on their behalf, arguing that the State's denial of their marriage rights (and refusal to recognize their marriage rites) represents a violation of both the "Free Exercise" and the "Establishment" clauses of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.  Kate and Sheila have been interviewed by both local and national media outlets and today their story appeared in The New York Times.

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Happy Valentine's Day!

Aaron Toleos, Director
KnowThyNeighbor.org
(978) 821-4620

   

Comments

[ryan charisma]

you go ladies!

[Joe S.]

Get ready....Haters in California have begun another petition drive to add discrimination into the CA constitution...they will finish up before the 6/2 ruling of the court...the drive, if sucessful would allow the people to over turn the court and the legislature no matter what the outcome is. Arnold Schwartzneger has pledged to sign a marriage equality bill if the court rules in favor of it. Maybe another knowthyneighbor signature site should be set up!

[Glen Chocsondic]

So 2 people were arrested for breaking the law? What is the story?