The afternoon of July 1 saw the first gay couple apply for a marriage license in Dent County, according to Recorder of Deeds Cindy Ard and Deputy Clerk Krystal Luebbert.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 (Obergefell v. Hodges) June 26 that same-sex couples have the same right to marry as heterosexual couples.
Justice Anthony M. Kennedy delivered the opinion of the Court.
“The Constitution promises liberty to all within its reach, a liberty that includes certain specific rights that allow persons, within a lawful realm, to define and express their identity” wrote Justice Kennedy. “No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family."
“It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage,” he concluded. “Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right. The judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is reversed. It is so ordered.”
James W. Cotner, 59, and Gary E. Cotner, 65, made Dent County history with their application. They’ve been in a relationship for 31 years, and say that for 28 of those, they’ve wanted to get married. The couple is planning on finally tying the knot later this month.
“It’s the law,” says Ard. “Some might not agree with it, but I’m not going to discriminate. I’m not here to judge anybody.”
Ard was on vacation the week following the decision, which left the actual first issuing of the certificate to Luebbert, who was filling in for Ard during her week off.
Other than one line on the marriage forms referring to “man and woman,” the old forms can still be used after the appropriate application of a Sharpee. New ones, with gender-neutral titles, are on the way.
This is Ard’s ninth year as the recorder. Apart from marriage licenses, she also handles deeds, land transfers and passports. Luebbert has worked as deputy clerk since March.
The Salem News publishes marriage licenses monthly.
