Bowling Green's Homosexual "Couple" Cheers U. S. Supreme Court's Same Sex Ruling, Calls Ruling "A Natural Progression".

Court ruling 'a natural progression'

Christin and Marcie Mulwitz

Christin and Marcie Mulwitz had a mini-celebration Wednesday after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Defense of Marriage Act – which defines marriage as between one man and one woman – is unconstitutional.
 
In another decision Wednesday, the Supreme Court also cleared the way for gay marriages to take place in California.

Christin and Marcie Mulwitz celebrated their third anniversary June 10.

They married in Provincetown, Mass., and live in Warren County, where they raise two children, ages 13 and 16. Family mementos are scattered through their home, including a plate with the children’s handprints and a glass vase filled with multicolored sand symbolizing the union of the family.

“It’s one of the reasons we went to Massachusetts, because it was important to us to teach the kids, you know, that you want to be in a committed marriage,” Marcie Mulwitz said. “We didn’t want to just move in together and live like that.”

The couple work, attend church and live normal lives, but their marriage isn’t recognized in Kentucky. They believe eventually it will be. The Supreme Court decision shows momentum on that front, Christin Mulwitz said.

Wednesday’s court decision will allow them to file federal taxes together.

“It’s just a natural progression,” Marcie Mulwitz said. “It’s just like any other rights. ... It’s well past time for it to be there.”

In the meantime, they try to protect their family. For example, they made a will so, if one dies, their home can’t be taken from the other, Marcie Mulwitz said.

But there are things for which they can’t make provisions.

“It gives us maybe a false sense of security, I would say,” Christin Mulwitz said.

There’s no guarantee, if one of them were sick or injured, that one would be allowed to visit each other, Marcie Mulwitz said.

Marcie Mulwitz also can’t legally adopt Christin Mulwitz’s children without her relinquishing parental rights. If something were to happen to her, the children might be taken away, Christin Mulwitz said.

That lack of stability wouldn’t be good for them, Marcie Mulwitz said.

“The most important thing in raising a kid is stability for them,” she said.

“And love,” Christin Mulwitz added.

Diane Lewis, acting president of Bowling Green’s chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, said she was thrilled about the Supreme Court decisions.

“The tide is turning, and we’re on our way,” she said.

Today’s youths increasingly view homosexuality as a non-issue, and Lewis hopes Kentucky will catch up with national trends on gay marriage and fairness ordinances that help protect against discrimination.

Patricia Minter, a member of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky Board of Directors and an associate history professor at Western Kentucky University, said that, as a legal scholar, she always thought the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional. “It’s a major day for civil rights and human rights in the United States,” she said Wednesday.

Marriage is a basic right, Minter said. It’s meaningful culturally, facilitates process like inheritance and helps parents to create stable environments for children.

The Rev. Kara Hildebrandt, associate pastor at The Presbyterian Church on State Street, felt the Supreme Court rulings dealing with gay marriage were positive.

“It keeps the separation of church and state,” she said. “If the church defines marriage one way, that should not be placed on everyone. I think we saw justice in action today.”

The Presbyterian Church (USA) is in the process of discussing how to define marriage. The denomination allows gays and lesbians to be ordained as ministers.

“(It’s about) understanding that we are all God’s children,” Hildebrandt said. “(Sexual orientation) is not a defining factor in whether or not you are qualified to be ordained.”

She’s interested to see what will happen when ministers in states where gay marriage is legal are asked to perform gay and lesbian weddings that go against their beliefs.

Richard Nelson, executive director of the conservative think tank Commonwealth Policy Center in Cadiz, said he was surprised at the Supreme Court decision to strike down DOMA. The law has been in place for 17 years and was approved by large margins.

“It was wrong in that it subverts the democratic process,” he said.

He’s concerned that the activism he sees at the court level will discourage people from participating in the political process.

“When you have an activist court, you undermine that process,” Nelson said.

The ruling also sends the message to young people that marriage can be whatever they want instead of between a man and woman, he said.

Nelson said men and women represent two sides of humanity, and doesn’t believe that having two parents of the same gender is the same as having one of each gender.

“There is a difference between men and women,” he said. “Gender does mean something.”

For the Rev. Dave Thomas at Lakeview Fellowship Church, two things are supreme: God and the Bible. “That sets the boundaries for me of what’s right or wrong,” he said.

Because God says marriage is between a man and a woman, that’s what he believes is right. He is upset by the Supreme Court rulings.

“I think it’s very sad, kind of an indication of where our society is right now,” Thomas said.

It  frustrates him that the decision did not come from the people.

“Seemingly five people decided what’s right or wrong,” he said.

The Rev. Freddie Brown, pastor of State Street Baptist Church, doesn’t think allowing gays and lesbians to marry is in the same category as civil rights, such as the right to vote.

“I don’t see it in that light,” he said. “They are two completely different categories.”

Though he doesn’t believe homosexuality is in line with the word of God, he treats gays and lesbians with love.

“Our decision is to minister to all people, including those with alternative lifestyles,” Brown said. “Maybe we can get them to see God’s way. …It’s just like any other sinner. I might hate their crime, but I don’t hate them. We love the person regardless of the mistakes they made.”