It didn’t take long for some lead-headed bureaucrat to turn the idea of marriage equality into a nightmare. Over the weekend, East Texas couple Karen Wilkerson and Jolie Smith of Smith County trekked to county court to obtain their marriage license, and instead wound up snarled in a mess of red tape. KLTV reports that clerk Karen Phillips firmly rebuffed their request, claiming all the necessary paperwork was gender specific so no can do.
“[Male] is not something I can white out because that’s a legal form,” she told Wilkerson and Smith.
“Is the purpose of Smith County to obstruct the law of the land for administrative purpose?” Wilkerson asked.
After Wilkerson firmly reminded Phillips that counties in Dallas and Austin were issuing licenses left and right, the clerk wouldn’t budge. ”Well, they may be doing that, but I don’t want to have to call up a bunch of people saying we have to redo this,” she responded passive-aggressively. “This is not a circus; we don’t like to be a circus.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Related: These Marriage Equality Memes And Graphics Will Make You Laugh And Cry With Joy
Wilkerson and Smith claim they waited in the courthouse for over an hour and later returned to the clerk’s office, all to no avail. “To see another couple be able to get their license,” Smith said tearfully. “And now the Supreme Court says we can… but [the heterosexual couple] can walk out of here with one, and we can’t.”
The couple plans to file a lawsuit in federal court against the Smith County Clerk’s Office, and they shouldn’t have any problem gathering the necessary paperwork.
Ororo Munroe
SUE HA!!ð??ð??ð??
Victor Barry
Make them rich Texas…go for it.
Dominique Conzemius O'Reilly
go get em ladies!
Damon Robbins
Sue the municipality!
Brad Willey
As they should
Brett Wilson
How sad! A first world county where their own judicial system won’t obey their own laws! Move to S .A. ladies 🙂
Mack
That’s what they should do. They should have been prepared as was the other counties. This is just a delay tactic. They should add the State Attorney General to the suit.
Melinda Kaye
u might as well make it a class action
Michael P. Hamilton
You should update your article to reflect current information.
The county has since complied and issued the license, and the lawsuit has since been dropped.
http://m.kltv.com/kltv/db/330566/content/NWPzwjSw
Catherine Gordon
Ladies, you have the right to get married, if a clerk doesn’t like it, they can go get fired. Please sue them.Please, please sue them.
Xzamilio
This is just pathetic. I live here in Texas, and their stupidity is astounding. Give it up… your lives have not ended because two men or two women can marry. It’s funny how someone’s “personal beliefs” find their way to the public square.
Tony Chaplinski
should be a short trial. don’t settle out of court
Harlan Smith
please please sue that holier-than-thou bitch
Arvo Toolanen
Texas might outlaw tithing and taxes, but wait, how do Texans get wealthy beside the oil from natural this world is not our home locations!
rickhfx
So the clerk a civil SERVANT refuses to do the job shes paid for by these very tax payers, I smell a bigot, hit them in the wallet gals, nail em good !
Gleta M. Gaddis
You go women…go for their lungs!!!!!
polarisfashion
Any clerk who denies a same sex marriage license should be fired for insubordination! Marriage equality is the law of the land now, get over it already!
Celtic
This county is one county away from mine. However in my county licenses have been given. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised my county is offering them. Just goes to show you can’t judge all rural places in the same light.
Giancarlo85
Any clerk who denies a same sex marriage license should be removed immediately. That is in violation of the US Supreme Court ruling which is the law of the land. Supremacy clause.
Mark Pointon
You go girls!
Nick Cioffi
Go for it ladies
Good luck.
Gee Rosato
Lawsuits from everyone allies and everyone even if you are not gay they are violating the constitution.
2/3 of states were in support
Which goes to supreme Court they ruled a verdict and states must comply if they don’t that shows state leadership is in violation of their oath to uphold the constitution of the United States of America which nullifies their ability to hold office.
Gee Rosato
Sue sue sue
Even straights should sue everyone should sue
Lawsuits from everyone allies and everyone even if you are not gay they are violating the constitution.
2/3 of states were in support
Which goes to supreme Court they ruled a verdict and states must comply if they don’t that shows state leadership is in violation of their oath to uphold the constitution of the United States of America which nullifies their ability to hold office.
David Johnson
Best of luck ladies! Hope you get everything you want, and then some.
M J Martinez Crogan
Do it, sue big
Guido Habets
http://www.naturalnews.com/050225_gay_marriage_Supreme_Court_Big_Brother.html
Luis H. Lopez
Go and file the biggest lawsuit against the bigots the Supreme Court backs you then go on a honey moon with the millions !!
Dakotahgeo
Best wishes to these two ladies. A couple hundred thousand $$$ in compensation should cover a nice home and wedding! Sue the hell out of them. A Federal fine of a half million should also teach the State a well-deserved lesson!