Sep 09 2008
California: “I now pronounce you Party A and Party B”
It seems strange but in reality it appears that is the eventual destination for marriage in California.
Via Orb:1
“Brides” and “grooms” are no longer allowed to marry in the State of California.
That privilege is only extended to individuals who allow themselves to be called “Party A” and “Party B” on marriage licenses.
Pastor Doug Bird of Abundant Life Fellowship in Roseville, Calif., was alarmed to find the state now rejects the traditional terms after he officiated his first marriage ceremony last week following the California Supreme Court decision to overturn Proposition 22.
The couple had written the words “bride” and “groom” next to “Party A” and “Party B” because they wanted to be legally recognized as husband and wife.
However, the Placer County marriage license was denied.
“I received back the license and a letter from the Placer County Clerk/Recorder stating that the license ‘does not comply with California State registration laws,’” Bird said in a statement from the Pacific Justice Institute.
It was an “unacceptable alteration,” the County Recorder’s Office claimed the State Office of Vital Records determined.
“What’s next?” Bird wrote in a Sept. 4 letter. “Will the State of California force [ministers] to use the terms “Party A” and “Party B” in the ceremony itself?”
OK, there are a lot of things going on here.
First, I will admit that the story here was really instigated by a couple that want to push the issue on the titles. Whether their license actually says bride and groom or not, they are husband and wife. The fact is the titles are not dependent on the form. So that aspect of it does not bother me much.
At the same time, if a couple wants to be known as “I know pronounce you ‘Rutabaga’ and ‘Crescent Wrench’ in their ceremony, than I personally don’t care and that should be their right.
I suppose the present form, which is unfair to all (two men may have wanted to be recognized as ’Husbands’ not party a or b) makes sense on a lower level, as it is equally unfair to all.
And maybe having separate forms for the different wedding flavors would violate laws and cost extra taxpayer money.
A better solution would be to let the parties pick there own with a block that essentially says “Party A <insert designation>” and similar for party b. In other words, recognize that there are potentially several preferred designations, and let the forms have the capacity to deal with that constructively.
The cold reality is that in California, unless the Marriage Amendment passes, this is the reality, so they had better learn to deal with it, and deal with it in a way that pleases everyone and represents everyone.
People should also remember that the ceremony allows the real designation, and the license just ratifies the relationship as legally recognized in the state. One does not cancel out the other.
Yes, I admit the genericness of it is disturbing. Already they ave banned mommy and daddy from schools in some towns, and gender and gender identity are treated as radically different yet equal topics. California’s desire for inclusive tolerance at any cost has created a generic identity culture that is confusing on one hand, and bland and colorless on the other.
But that is how democracy works. The Californians are getting the politics they have paid for, so to speak.
With a Constitutional Amendment on the ballot in November this may only be a temporary problem.
One thing appears certain: Gay marriage will continue to be an issue that will ping pong back and forth, and in no way will everyone ever be happy as long as our Government has a stranglehold on marriage.
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