by AnDerecco
Before they could make it to the front, Ellis enters. Herb was the first to notice him. He tapped Ellis on the side and pointed. He immediately walked to the back to greet him.
KARELL
Who is he…(spotting Ellis)…who is that?
JACOB
My ex.
KARELL
What?
Herb walks over to Jacob.
HERB
Was he invited?
JACOB
Yeah. You have nothing to worry about.
Jacob leaves Karell and Herb standing beside each other and walks over to Ellis and Dennis.
JACOB
Glad that you could make it.
ELLIS
Thanks for inviting me.
DENNIS
Did you get checked in?
ELLIS
Not yet. Jacob can I speak to you, privately.
Jacob looks over to Dennis. Dennis smiled and nodded. Jacob walked with Ellis over to a chair.
ELLIS
Are you excited?
JACOB
I am.
ELLIS
Well I wanted to tell you congratulations. I know that you are happy and I am happy for you. I have something for you.
Ellis reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out two tickets to Anguilla.
ELLIS
I know how much you love it there. This is just a little something that you and Dennis can enjoy.
JACOB
Man, thanks. This means a lot.
ELLIS
It is the least that I can do for everything that I put you through.
Jacob and Dennis exchanged hugs. They stood and walked to the front. Jacob walked over and showed the tickets to Dennis.
JACOB
I guess we will have two honeymoons.
LXI
BISHOP BLAKE
Dearly beloved: We are gathered together here in the face of this company, to join together these two men in holy matrimony; which is commended of St. Paul to be honorable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate, these two persons present come now to be joined. In any man can show just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.
Jacob looks over at Dennis and smiled.
BISHOP BLAKE
Let us pray.
O gracious and everliving God, you have created us in your image: Look mercifully upon this coupe who come to you seeking your blessing, and assist them with your grace, that with true fidelity and steadfast love they may honor and keep the promises and vows they make; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen
Everyone then echoed him with “Amen”.
BISHOP BLAKE
Jacob, do you take Dennis to be joined in wedlock, and in the presence of these witnesses do you vow that you will do everything in your power to make your love for him a growing part of your life? Will you continue to strengthen it from day to day and week to week with your best resources? Will you stand by Dennis in sickness or in health, in poverty of in wealth, and will you shun all others and keep yourself to him alone as long as you both shall live?
JACOB
I will.
BISHOP BLAKE
Dennis, do you take Jacob to be joined in wedlock, and in the presence of these witnesses do you vow that you will do everything in your power to make your love for him a growing part of your life? Will you continue to strengthen it from day to day and week to week with your best resources? Will you stand by Jacob in sickness or in health, in poverty of in wealth, and will you shun all others and keep yourself to him alone as long as you both shall live?
DENNIS
I will.
BISHOP BLAKE
Let us pray. Make their life together a sign of Christ's love to this sinful and broken world, that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal guilt, and joy conquer despair. Amen
Jacob and Dennis kneeled before Bishop Blake.
BISHOP BLAKE
Most gracious God, we give you thanks for your tender love in sending Jesus Christ to come among us, to be born of a human mother, and to make the way of the cross to be the way of life. We thank you, also, for consecrating the union of man and woman in his Name. By the power of your Holy Spirit, pour out the abundance of your blessing upon this man and this woman. Defend them from every enemy. Lead them into all peace. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts, a mantle about their shoulders, and a crown upon their foreheads. Bless them in their work and in their companionship; in their sleeping and in their waking; in their joys and in their sorrows; in their life and in their death. Finally, in your mercy, bring them to that table where your saints feast for ever in your heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Jacob takes the ring from Karell and places it on Dennis’ ring finger.
JACOB
I, Jacob Gibson, ask you, Dennis Hartley, to be my husband, as my friend and my love. On this day I affirm the relationship we have enjoyed, looking to the future to deepen and strengthen it. I will be yours in plenty and in want, in sickness and in health, in failure and in triumph. Together we will dream, will stumble but restore each other, we will share all things, serving each other and our fellow humanity. I will cherish and respect you, comfort and encourage you, be open with you, and stay with you as long as we both shall live, both freed and bound by our love.
Dennis then takes the ring from Herb and places it on Jacob’s ring finger.
DENNIS
I, Dennis Hartley, ask you, Jacob Gibson, to be my husband, as my friend and my love. On this day I affirm the relationship we have enjoyed, looking to the future to deepen and strengthen it. I will be yours in plenty and in want, in sickness and in health, in failure and in triumph. Together we will dream, will stumble but restore each other, we will share all things, serving each other and our fellow humanity. I will cherish and respect you, comfort and encourage you, be open with you, and stay with you as long as we both shall live, both freed and bound by our love.
BISHOP BLAKE
Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you: The Lord mercifully with His favor look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace; that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting.
Ladies and gentlemen I present to you Mr. Dennis Hartley and Mr. Jacob Gibson-Hartley.
LXII
The reception followed the ceremony. Everyone was snapping pictures. The DJ played Jacob and Dennis favorite song. They stepped into the center of the dance floor to dance their first dance as a married couple together. They stood forehead to forehead.
There was an audible gasp when a woman walked on the dance floor and tapped Dennis on the shoulder. He stopped dancing to turn and see who was touching him. To his surprise it was Detective Kim Foster. She placed a baby’s car seat on the floor.
DENNIS
Detective Foster what a surprise to see you.
KIM
I have another surprise for you.
She reached down into the car seat and clicked a button. When she stood she handed Dennis the baby.
KIM
Say hello to your son.
AnDerecco’s Study (as of 4/2012)
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in the U.S. state of Mississippi face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Mississippi. Same-sex couples and families headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for all the protections available to opposite-sex married couples.
Law regarding same-sex sexual activity
Same-sex sexual activity has been
legal in Mississippi since 2003, when the United States Supreme Court struck down all state sodomy laws with Lawrence v. Texas.
Recognition of same-sex relationships
Mississippi does not permit the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The state forbids, both by statute and in its constitution, the recognition of same-sex marriages and other form of same-sex partnership solemnized in other jurisdictions. The constitutional amendment defining marriage was approved in a voter referendum in November 2004.
Adoption and parenting
Mississippi permits adoption by an unmarried adult without regard to sexual orientation. Couples of the same gender may not adopt jointly.
Public opinion
A November 2011 Public Policy Polling survey found that only 13% of Mississippi voters supported the legalization of same-sex marriage, while 78% were opposed and 9% were not sure. A separate question on the same survey found that 38% of respondents supported legal recognition of same-sex couples, with 10% supporting same-sex marriage and 28% supporting civil unions, 60% opposed all legal recognition, and 2% were not sure, making Mississippi one of the most conservative states in the country on the issue.
Is same-sex marriage legal in Mississippi?
No, same-sex marriages are not legally valid or recognized in Mississippi.
Constitutional Amendment
The Mississippi Marriage Amendment 1 (2004) passed on 2004 November 2 during the general elections with 86% of the vote making only marriages between a man and a woman valid in the state, with gay marriages performed elsewhere being treated as void and unenforceable in the state.
Statute
The Mississippi code section 93-1-1 (2) states that marriages between persons of the same sex are prohibited and null and void; furthermore they are not recognized if performed outside of the state.
On July 20, 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world and the first country in the Americas to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide with the enactment of the Civil Marriage Act which provided a gender-neutral marriage definition. Before passage of the Act, more than 3,000 same-sex couples had already married in those areas. Most legal benefits commonly associated with marriage had been extended to cohabiting same-sex couples since 1999.
The Civil Marriage Act was introduced by Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberal government in the Canadian House of Commons on February 1, 2005 as Bill C-38. It was passed by the House of Commons on June 28, 2005, by the Senate on July 19, 2005, and it received Royal Assent the following day. On December 7, 2006, the House of Commons effectively reaffirmed the legislation by a vote of 175 to 123, defeating a Conservative government motion to examine the matter again. This was the third vote supporting same-sex marriage taken by three Parliaments under three Prime Ministers in three different years.
US State
Same-Sex Marriage Laws
Date
Alabama
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage and civil unions
Alaska
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage
Arizona
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage
Arkansas
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage and civil unions
California
Issues Legal Domestic Partnership
1999/ 2005
Colorado
Designated Beneficiaries
2009
Connecticut
Issues Legal Gay Marriage License
2008
Delaware
Issues Legal Civil Union
Jan. 2012
Florida
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage and civil unions
Georgia
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage and civil unions
Hawaii
Issues Legal Civil Union
Jan. 2012
Idaho
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage and civil unions
Illinois
Issues Legal Civil Union
11-Jun
Indiana
State Statute bans LGBT marriage
Iowa
Issues Legal Gay Marriage License
Apr. 2009
Kansas
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage and civil unions
Kentucky
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage and civil unions
Louisiana
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage and civil unions
Maine
Recognizes legal domestic Partnership
Maryland
Marriage Equality Bill Signed
Mar. 2012
Massachusetts
Issues Legal Gay Marriage License
2004
Michigan
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage and civil unions
Minnesota
State Statute bans LGBT marriage
Mississippi
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage
Missouri
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage
Montana
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage
Nebraska
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage and civil unions
Nevada
Issues Legal Domestic Partnership
Oct. 2009
New Hampshire
Issues Legal Gay Marriage License
Jan. 2010
New Jersey
Issues Legal Civil Union
2007
New Mexico
No Laws Either For or Against - No Public Policy
New York
Issues Legal Gay Marriage License
July 24-2011
North Carolina
State Statute bans LGBT marriage
North Dakota
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage and civil unions
Ohio
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage and civil unions
Oklahoma
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage and civil unions
Oregon
Issues Legal Domestic Partnership
2008
Pennsylvania
State Statute bans LGBT marriage
Rhode Island
Issues Legal Civil Union
South Carolina
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage and civil unions
South Dakota
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage and civil unions
Tennessee
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage
Texas
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage and civil unions
Utah
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage and civil unions
Vermont
Issues Legal Gay Marriage License
Sept. 2009
Virginia
State Constitution bans LGBT marriage and civil unions
Washington State
Marriage Equality Bill Signed
Feb. 2012
Washington D.C.
Issues Legal Gay Marriage License
2010
West Virginia
State Statute bans LGBT marriage
Wisconsin
Issues Limited Domestic Partnership
Jul. 2009
Wyoming
State Statute bans LGBT marriage
Same-sex marriage (also known as gay marriage) is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or gender identity. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality.
Civil unions are legal contracts between partners that are recognized by a state or government as conferring all or some of the rights conferred by marriage, but without the implicit historical and religious meaning associated with the word "marriage."
A domestic partnership is a legal or personal relationship between two individuals who live together and share a common domestic life but are neither joined by marriage nor a civil
union. Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and California, a domestic partnership is almost equivalent to marriage, or to other legally recognized same-sex or different-sex unions, while in other jurisdictions, domestic partnerships may confer lesser relationship rights than other jurisdictions' civil unions and more than de-facto cohabitation.
Commitment Ceremony is a ceremony similar to a wedding for two people who are of the same sex or for two people who choose not to marry each other. A ceremony for those who do not have the opportunity or the desire for a state sanctioned marriage; a contract that binds two lives together, and the couple agrees to share one another's life materially, physically and/or spiritually.