Gay marriages in Northeast Oklahoma

This week’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court not to hear cases on same-sex marriages opened the floodgates on courts issuing same-sex marriage licenses in urban communities.

However, the interest was almost none in Oklahoma’s Grand Lake area for those seeking same-sex marriage license applications.

Officials with the Delaware County and Craig County Court Clerk’s offices reported they received no telephone calls regarding same-sex marriage licenses and none have been issued as of Thursday, Oct. 9.

In Ottawa County, it was a different story.

‘We have issued seven [same-sex marriage licenses],” said Cassie Key, Ottawa County Court Clerk.

Key said she had received no complaints.

In northeast Oklahoma, several people when interviewed expressed the law did not affect them and they had no opinion.

Those favoring the ruling were glad for friends and family that were involved in a same-sex relationship and those opposed to same-sex marriage said their opposition was Biblically based and other were angry at the intrusion of the federal government into a state issue.

“I believe marriage should be between one man and one woman,” said Bonnie Freeman-Flaming. “However, I will not condemn anyone on their partner choice. It is not our place as Christians or humans to judge another person.”

“I don't understand why it bothers so many people,” said Domonique Hunt.

Hunt said she questions how same-sex couples getting married affect straight people.

“I for one am very excited that my gay and lesbian family and friends can now marry the one who completes them,” Hunt said.

“I personally will never vote for same-sex marriage but that is because I believe that God says that it should be a man and a woman,” said Sandra Knight Delaune. “Everyone has to face God in the end. I just want to do what is pleasing unto him.”

Delaune said she does not judge people that are same-sex and will not treat them any different.

“What I dislike about the whole business of this is that in 2004 the state of Oklahoma voted (banning same-sex marriage),” said John Crawley.

Question 711 passed by over 75 percent, records show.

“To overturn this is federal abuse of state rights,” Crawley said.

“It seems to me that even offering this "question" on a ballot, in itself is unconstitutional,” said Yvonne Perryman-Matthews. “What right does the government, at any level, have the right to tell you who you can marry or ask your peers to choose for you?”

Marriage and divorce in the Grand Lake area

In 2010, there were 1,216 marriages licenses filed in Ottawa County and 129 divorces granted, according to the State Department of Health. In that same time, Delaware County had 188 marriage licenses filed and 195 divorces granted, while Craig County reported 111 marriage licenses filed and 85 divorces.

What makes Ottawa County so attractive to wedding bliss is Lavern’s Wedding Chapel, which has been a cornerstone of the courthouse block in Miami for 60 years.

“I married one (same-sex) couple on Tuesday and another couple (on Wednesday),” said Patricia Jones, co-owner of Lavern’s Wedding Chapel in Miami.

Jones said she was not prepared for the same-sex marriage ceremony requests.

The minister who Jones normally uses for performing marriage ceremonies declined to perform the ceremony for the same-sex couple, prompting Jones to put an advertisement in the Miami News-Record looking for a minister that would officiate a same-sex marriage ceremony.

Jones said she called several churches in Miami, but most ministers declined saying their church or their governing body would not allow them to preside over a same-sex marriage ceremony.

Most couples have already had a commitment ceremony, they just wanted to make it legal, Jones said.

Another same-sex wedding is booked for Nov. 1, she said. All the couples were from Missouri, Jones said.

by Sheila Stogsdill, The Grove Sun Daily, Grove, OK.

Copyright 2014 by grandlakenews.com. Provided by the Associated Press.

The Gayly – October 10, 2014 @ 9:50am