Gay Dallas couple Mark Jiminez, Beau Chandler arrested after being denied marriage license at Clerk’s Office in Independence Day protest
Gay couple Mark “Major” Jiminez and Beau Chandler were arrested at the Dallas County Clerk’s Office on Thursday afternoon, July 5, after they were denied a marriage license and refused to leave.
The couple entered the County Records Building at about 3 p.m. with friends, TV crews and friendly police in tow.
“City police, county sheriffs and building security are all here,” Chandler said. “Nice to get their support.”
Although he was joking, most of the people the couple encountered in the building were supportive, even if they were unable to issue the license.
Sr. Cpl. Laura Martin, LGBT liaison officer for the Dallas Police Department, accompanied the group, even though she didn’t have direct jurisdiction since they were in a county building. Lt. Shelley Knight, LGBT liaison for the sheriff’s department, also followed the couple.
“I told them if they want to smoke, do it before going upstairs,” Martin said. “And have a full belly.”
Martin said the couple could be held overnight, depending upon how backed up the magistrate was.
“They’re the nicest couple,” Martin said of Chandler and Jiminez. “They’re the first guys after any protest to come up and thank the officers.”
It was unclear at press time what charge would be filed against the couple. Last week, a sheriff’s spokesman indicated the pair likely would be charged with criminal trespass, a class-B misdemeanor. The penalty for that is up to 180 days in jail and a maximum $2,000 fine.
Once in the license bureau on Thursday afternoon, Chandler and Jiminez filled out the paperwork. Chandler crossed out the word “bride” and wrote “not applicable.”
Before being called to the counter, the couple sat waiting next to a straight couple also applying for a license. Jiminez explained to them why they were there, and the couple wished them luck.
“God bless you,” Regina Johnson said to Jiminez and Chandler. “Good luck. You’re in our prayers.”
Clerk’s assistant Melinda Saavedra called Jiminez and Chandler and asked for their IDs. She checked to make sure one wasn’t there as a proxy.
“We pointed out subsection B that invalidates all marriages,” Chandler said. He was referring to the constitutional amendment that bans same-sex marriage in Texas. “She got teary-eyed when I said we love each other and want to get married.”
After being refused a license, the couple handcuffed themselves to each other and sat on the floor at the head of the line. Jiminez spoke on camera to TV news outlets explaining some of the more than 1,000 rights straight couples enjoy that are denied to gay and lesbian couples.
“This is about not being treated equal,” he said.
Jiminez said that the couple plans to get married on Sept. 13 and participate in Dallas’ gay Pride parade on Sept. 16.
He said their mothers and other family members would be attending their wedding and hoped they could stay to ride in a car in the parade with them.
The sign they plan to post on the car will read, “Just married, but not legal.”
Chandler said the idea for the protest came after the couple became engaged.
“He proposed the end of May,” Chandler said. “He made breakfast and I was eating pancakes and found a ring inside. He asked if I would be his husband.”
He said that the couple thought of going to another state to marry but decided there was no point if the marriage would just be void as soon as they got home.
“We spoke to our friend Daniel [Cates] with GetEQUAL, and he suggested we make a statement,” Chandler said. “And we decided it needed to be the day after Independence Day.”
At 4:30 p.m., the building was closed and everyone, including media, was instructed to leave.
The couple was not arrested until everyone else had left the office. When they came down the elevator, they were no longer handcuffed to each other but were handcuffed individually, each escorted by two sheriff’s deputies.
They were placed in separate squad cars and taken to Lew Sterrett for processing as their friends and supporters lined the sidewalk and applauded.
Martin Griffin came to the Records Building with his partner, Dillon Brown. He said they were doing this for every same-sex couple.
“We are all equal and should have the same rights,” Griffin said.
Activist Cd Kirven said, “This is the first time this has happened in Dallas. It’s historic.”
“You’re making history,” one friend shouted after the couple as the sheriff’s vehicles pulled away.
More photos and video below.
This is commendable……continue to peacefully protest. The more this is kept to the forefront….is strengthens the possibility of change. God Bless.
Thank you both for taking a stand for gay and lesbian MARRIAGE equality.
Very proud of this couple for the respect they showed to everyone and the courage they showed. Someday, equal right for ALL will become, as the Constitution meant it to be. Good luck guys!!
I got teary-eyed when it read, “He asked if I would be his husband”.
I am so proud of this couple fighting for something they believe in I hope you will win this! Mine and my husband saying is “Through thick and thin We Will always be there for one another” I will be following this closely!
I am very proud of their actions. My husband and I took the route of going to New York last October to be married, only to come home to Texas to have it invalid of course. Coincidentally our legal surname change was approved today by court order. None of us should have to go through hoops to marry the ones we love.
An unfortunate event and commend these guys for trying, however you can’t fight the state law on the local level. They just need to go to a state that allows same sex couples.
This is amazing these guys are making history, they are the Rosa Parks if the gay rights.
Well, you gotta start somewhere. Thanks, guys. Bold move.
Proud of y’all…
I love you for taking a stand for gay people now and in the near future when we become equal . We will be equal.
Seems like a stunt to me and looking for 15 minutes of fame. Waste of time. Should have protested where it matters. Valuable police and sheriff’s officers were pulled away from protecting the public to address the publicity needs of these two midirected souls. Shame on them. My partner and I devote our time to lobby for marriage equality at elected officials who can change the laws.
What’s up with the sunglasses on their heads? This isn’t Jersey Shore. Maybe that’s why they got denied.
@ C. Ramona… well, given most of your state’s elected officials hate you, you have a constitutional amendment barring any legal recognition of you and the Texas GOP has recently called for you to be criminalized as gay people, I wish you luck in your lobbying efforts.
These two gentlemen put a human face on discrimination and their message and act of civil disobedience is already making headlines all over the USA. Congrats guys, on your engagement!!!
Ramona, Elected officials are not doing their job. Wake up and smell the coffee. These guys stood up for their rights to be treated equal. I have so much respect for them. If everyone had your attitude, we wouldn’t have our freedom today and if everyone was treated equally, the police officers time wouldn’t of been “tied up” with this issue. if the officers were “true Americans”, they would of not arrested these guys just because they want to be treated equal. More people need to do this!! Stand up for your rights everyone. It is WE THE PEOPLE….. it is not We the govt.
C. Ramona, go right ahead and work within the system to your heart’s content, but rest assured that the change required isn’t going to come from enemies of human freedom. If it takes a thousand similar ‘stunts’ as you so condescendingly describe their effort , then so be it.
Grow up and place the blame where it rightfully belongs and it don’t belong to two men wanting to have the same rights as any other Texan. Jeez.
Beau and Major thank yuou for doing what u feel was needed so one day this silly law will get overturn and be told its unconsitutional what happen to freedom and justice for all i guess it dont work for same sex couples who want to get married thank you again Beau and Major for what you do love youll always
These guys are amazing an in inspiration to me. Don’t listen to the haters! This is definitely something that made everyone take notice and know we want equality. Very proud to read this.
If it happened in Sri lanka, these guys would have been lost their life by now. At least in USA you have freedom to be this far. Adorable and courageble couple. Thanks for your bravery !!!
You people are being duped. Mr. Chandler is nothing mo than pure trash and this is just an attention grabber for attention. Nothing more, nothing less.
These 2 gentleman have more guts than most people that I knoqw and I commend them for their courage and their bravery. GOD BLESS you both!!!!!
Thank you Mark and Beau for being courageous and standing up for the rights for us to be treated equally, My husband and I were legally married in Toronto, Canada over eight years ago. It is an unforgivable outrage that our marriage isn’t recognized here in Texas and nationally. As more people become aware of the implications of the hateful DOMA legislation passed in Congress as well as anti-gay marriage amendments in different states public opinion is shifting in our favor. It is through the work of heroes such as yourselves that our message continues to break through.
To C. Ramona, I actually strongly disagree with you that they’re wasting time. The laws change with public opinion changes, and these “publicity stunts” are exactly what changes the hearts of people on the fence of these issues. Public opinion is changing for the better, although it’s slower than we would like. This is the surest way of guaranteeing positive change in the future.
C. Ramona – I see what you mean. This is just like when that attention hog Rosa Parks pulled police away from their busy days, when she should have just written a letter to her congressman.
Obviously, that was sarcasm. Good for these guys for standing up (sitting down?) for their rights. What REALLY shocks me is that neither the Dallas Morning News nor KDFW have covered this story. This is clearly an important piece of news that reflects what is currently happening throughout our country, and the lack of coverage by these major news sources reflects very poorly on Dallas and on the South in general. I’ve written to these two outlets asking why they didn’t cover this story, and I’ve also written to the other local news stations thanking them for doing their job, no matter what their personal feelings may be.
The Boston Tea Party was a publicity stunt. Civil disobedience has a long and honorable history in American politics. An earlier poster pointed out one of the more notable and successful examples; Rosa Parks became a folk hero for millions of Americans seeking civil rights for Black Americans. Only history will determine if Mark “Major” Jiminez and Beau Chandler’s efforts are worthy of the same type of admiration, but in my eyes they will always both be heroes.
I truly believe there will come a time that our grandchildren will look back on things like this with same embarrassment I feel when I look at the way blacks were treated in the 50-60s. Ask anyone younger than 15-16 their feelings on gay marriage. The tide is turning, oh so slowly.
This same action needs to happen in every anti-freedom state. There is a group here in my city that has tried to get marriage licenses on Valentine’s Day, which I would characterize as a “stunt” because they just take no for an answer and leave. Nothing happens until people protest, get arrested, refuse bail and clog the courts. Problem is nobody wants to have to explain a conviction to employers or anybody else in the future. They’re all (except for Chandler and Mark) running scared.
This is what a police state looks like. Now we can’t peacefully assemble? What difference does it make to the bigots and homophobes if gays get married? Why are you pushing this so hard? You have enough problems to worry about so mind your business.
My sweetheart and I (straight, as far as I know;) decided we wouldn’t get married until our gay & lesbian friends could, not thinking that 16 years later we’d still be waiting.
We thought we were there when the Maine legislature passed a full marriage equity law, but tons of Rightist money came into our state (some of it likely from Texas) and forced a referendum that negated the legislation by a few points.
We are going at it again with another popular referendum this Fall…
I am so proud of you and supportive. Of course, due to the draconian laws in Texas, you would not get the marriage license, but you knew that and did this for all of us. Just remember how most everyone, even the officials were supportive of your love for one another and desire to marry. Keep up the peaceful protest, because the more media attention showing gays and normal people who just want to have the same rights as heterosexual couples is not a crime and needs to happen in the US. May stories like yours overturn DOMA and state laws that deny your rights.
Courageous effort guys. Don’t give up, it will happen with people like.you leading the fight for equality. I am a native of Iowa and my husband is from Kansas. We have been married for nearly four years now. Prior to this we were together for 13 years I am 42 & he is 39. It will sweep this nation, its just taking a little longer in places. My thoughts, prsyers and support go out to the glbt communities of Texas and the rest of the United States as well as the world. Keep the dream alive. Thomas Clark Council Bluffs, Iowa
Sue the governmental bast*rds until SSM IS the law in Texas!
Kudos to these two beautiful and brave men for helping bring attention to this worthy cause. And to all those negative, calloused folks out there with their disparaging comments…shame on you!
Two gentlemen, acting with integrity and courage. May their example go viral in the real world and this begin to happen in every state that denies full equality. If I had a committed partner I’d be seriously urging this for ‘us’!!! Love you guys. Blessings on your union. Aloha.
You 2 are Making History not only in TX, but in this country by making a stand!! My partner and I have been together for over 20 years and want the same rights as our straight colleagues!
We LOVE and SUPPORT you 2!!
Thank You Thank You Thank You………
Maybe it was ego driven, maybe not. It got attention. It worked. It was obviously was planned in advance. Perhaps there was be less suspicion of it being a “stunt” If there were more than just one couple participating.
Haha. That was the craziest well orchestrated civil disobedience I’ve ever seen.
They should all go so smoothly.
When I look at the pictures of these gentlemen being escorted from the clerk’s office, I do not see heads bowed in guilt or shame. I see confidence, determination and encouragement. These two men will eventually leave the clerk’s office with their heads held high and their marriage license in hand. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their noses at every bigot, every lawmaker, every “Christian” (whatever that term means) and anyone else who feels they should have taken their places as second class citizens. Ballsy move, Mark and Beau. You guys rock!
Must say, I totally agree with Axel Rod. He must know Beau well
First of all, I do not appreciate the nasty comments about the man I plan to marry from individuals who hide behind a fake name. If you’ve got something to say, come say it to me in person…. you know where to find me.
But to everyone else, both Beau and I appreciate the love and support we have gotten from all of you. We are just like other gay guys…. we met last year on June 4th, 2011, and over the course of the months that followed talked and visited when we saw each other at benefits and fundraisers, and then earlier this year when the time was right, we got together and fell in love. And each day I fall more in love with him and that is why I want to get married to him. Why the hate from my own community? I don’t know, but again, if you’ve got something to say about my boy, come say it to my face.
Major, I wouldn’t let that bother me if I were you. The most likely reason for anyone to make derogatory comments about your partner is because they wanted you themselves. They weren’t good enough to make the cut, so the most logical reactionary measure is to cut down the guy who IS good enough and who DID make the cut. Typical childhood games, and unfortunately there isn’t anything you can do that will help them grow up and act like adults. All you can really do is tune them out.
I don’t condone gay and lesbian marriage, unions and the like. However, I condone equal rights for all man(woman)kind. Just think, we don’t have to be them but we can be discriminated against for who we are as a people too. We want equal rights in a country we live in and are suppose to love and cherish, why wouldn’t they? I’m not saying they or them as if they aren’t humans, I’m saying they or them because they just happened to be different than I am. And thank God for Rosa Parks she caused the right for me to drive the bus and not have to just sit in the back.