State Dept. Denies Gay’s Nuptial Name Change

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Massachusetts may recognize gay marriage, but that means absolutely nothing to the State Department:

As an AIDS counselor, Jason Hair-Wynn wants to bring his expertise to Africa, a continent that has been ravaged by the disease.

But when the Attleboro resident recently applied for a new passport so he could go to Africa, he learned the U.S. State Department would not recognize his new hyphenated name because he is a gay man married to another man.

He said the State Department said it was prohibited from recognizing his new name by the Defense of Marriage Act.

“We are unable to comply with your request for a name change based on the documentation you sent because of the Defense of Marriage Act …,” the letter states.

The missive goes on to remind Hair-Wynn that federal agencies define marriage as between “one man and one woman”. God, isn’t federalism wonderful?

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