Couples Intent On Suing State, Demand Marriage Licenses

On Friday, member-couples of Marry Me Minnesota gathered near the first floor fountain at the Hennepin County Courthouse. Group pictures were taken to commemorate the day that this group, intent on suing the State of Minnesota for the right to marry, took the first step in the run-up to filing their case.

The three couples, one female, two male, proceeded to the service center two floors below to seek marriage licenses. With giddy anticipation, the couples qued up as each took their turn bestowing bewilderment upon the clerk behind the counter. "Where's your bride?" "I don't get it." "You can't do that in Minnesota." We finally called for the supervisor, who did get it and was prepared with copies of the state's discriminatory marriage statutes, which he handed out to all three couples.

I called our law firm from the sevice center to make sure we were getting what we needed to make our case and we had met the requirements. We were all told our applications would be rejected. The application does not accomodate same-sex couples. We were given business cards of the people we dealt with. One of the people actually told us he hopes we win.