Mary Gay Hutcherson (center) and her partner of 10 years, Yolanda Farnum, head to the window in the Circuit Court Clerk's Office in Fredericksburg to apply for a marriage license. The couple, from Richmond, was one of four gay and lesbian couples applying for licenses. Hutcherson said she and her partner did not have the nerve to apply until the grassroots movement started recently. View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

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March for marriage

The gay and lesbian community demonstrated desire for marriage recognition by marching to Fredericksburg City Hall. Some applied for marriage licenses but were rejected.

By JESSICA ALLEN

Date published: 3/26/2004

Rally draws 200 for same-sex marriage rights

When Angie Abram and her partner, Karen Hurd, applied yesterday for a marriage license, they did so in a small room with three other same-sex couples surrounded by television cameras.

The Spotsylvania County couple, who have been together for five years, didn't mind.

They were making local history.

"We want to be treated the same as anyone else and be secure in our golden age," Abram said.

Not unexpectedly, the couples were denied licenses.

Sharron S. Mitchell, clerk of the circuit court, told them that "a marriage between two persons of the same sex is prohibited in Virginia."

The couples weren't dissuaded.

Instead, they joined about 200 supporters who gathered in front of Fredericksburg City Hall.

They were protesting President Bush's attempt to seek a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and a Virginia General Assembly resolution against recognition of any such relationship.

"We have been called to stand up and fight for our rights," said the Rev. Stephanie Burns, pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Fredericksburg.

Kim Bickert, a member of People for the Rights of Individuals of Sexual Minorities, a group at Mary Washington College known as PRISM, said she wanted to publicly speak out against the laws.

"I believe everyone deserves equal rights, and our country is discriminating against its own citizens with these bills," she said.

So Bickert contacted Susan Stanskas, former local president of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, and together they organized the march from Hurkamp Park to City Hall.

Fredericksburg is the first locality in Virginia to have a pro-gay marriage rally since Bush announced last month his support of the constitutional amendment, Stanskas said.

Donald Rallis, Mary Washington College professor of geography, spoke and noted that one argument against same-sex marriage is that marriage's purpose is to procreate.

"Does that mean we should revoke the marriage licenses of straight couples who don't have any children?"

Joanne Russell-Cavilee attended the march wearing a "Virginia is for Lovers" T-shirt and carrying a poster reading "Don't Bushwack the Constitution."

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Date published: 3/26/2004