John Wright | Online Editor
wright@dallasvoice.com
Each year countless gay and lesbian couples travel from Texas to places where same-sex marriage is legal to tie the knot.
But Mark Reed hopes same-sex couples in Texas will soon be able to conveniently — and legally — marry without even leaving the state.
Reed, a board member for the national LGBT direct action group GetEQUAL, recently married his longtime partner, Dante Walkup, at the W Dallas Victory hotel.
Their “Skype” wedding was officiated via teleconference from Washington, D.C., where same-sex marriage is legal, and they received their license in the mail a short time later.
It’s called “e-marriage,” and it’s a sort of high-tech version of the proxy wedding traditionally held when one of the parties can’t be physically present — because, for example, they’re in the military stationed overseas.
“The reason we wanted to do it this way is because we wanted to have a wedding here in Dallas with our family and friends,” Reed said. “It was very important that all of our family came. It was the first time they actually met, even though we’ve been together 10 years. If we had to go to D.C., there’s no way we could have had the people there who we wanted to be there.”
Reed and Walkup, co-owners of WDM Lighting on Oak Lawn Avenue, were married in a conference room at the W hotel on Oct. 10, in front of about 80 people with a 6-by-8-foot screen looming behind them.
The couple had rented a similar room at a W hotel in Washington, where marriage quality activist Sheila Alexander-Reid officiated the wedding.
“When we walked down the aisle, as soon as we reached the front, she comes on the screen like The Wizard of Oz,” Reed said. “It was beautiful. It wasn’t make-believe. It was like she was really there.”
Although Reed and Walkup were able to hold their ceremony in Dallas, they had to go to D.C. beforehand to register. And Reed said while D.C.’s marriage law has no provision against e-marriage, the validity of the procedure could theoretically be challenged in court.
That’s why the couple is now working with legal experts and legislators from states where same-sex marriage is legal to draft statutes that would solidify the practice. Reed and Walkup traveled this week to Michigan for a symposium on e-marriage.
While the couple has no intention of using their case to challenge Texas’ bans on same-sex marriage, Reed said they want to make it more convenient and less expensive for same-sex couples to legally wed.
Reed is also in the process of changing his surname in a Texas court, and he’s been fighting The Dallas Morning News — thus far unsuccessfully — to print their announcement in “Weddings” instead of in another section called “Commitments.”
“It’s like the more equal we can get through creative ways, we’re going to do it,” Reed said. “It’s just important to do anything we can to find creative ways around inequality.”
Wingnut heads are gonna explode.
Yay!
Congrats Mark and Dante! I’m glad you have the resources to make your wedding dreams come true. I know heterosexuals pay RIDICULOUS amounts of money for their weddings but can the average LGBT person be able to afford this kinda loophole? What are the bare bone costs for an e-marriage?
That’s so fabulous!! Congratulations and I hope you succeed in fighting off the jackals.
Just curious,
Could e-married couples also e-conceive children?
This is a blessing for these guys to find a way to be married in the comfort of their own home, w/o having to spend any more money than necessary just To legally get married. && it’s adorable to know you guys were together for 10yrs && married on 10/10/10!!! Keep fighting for your equal rights!!! much love!!! :))
I am so HAPPY for the both of you. Congratulations boys. See you soon.
Regarding the Dallas Morning News’ refusal to accept the wedding announcement: doesn’t Dallas have a city ordinance outlawing discrimination in the area of sales and service? I was told by the DMN that wedding announcements are considered paid advertising, and thus the paper is clearly breaking the law. Requiring that it be announced as a “commitment” makes it sound like a psychiatric situation. I hope Mark and Dante sue the bejeezus out of the bigots at the Dallas Morning News.
Wow! This is incredibly inspiring.
I suppose this is a good alternative to having a ceremony officiant present if the Texas Republican Party gets its way.
GOP 2010 Platform: “We support legislation that would make it a felony to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple and for any civil official to perform a marriage ceremony for such.”
This really is so amazing. It’s wonderful to see how resourceful people can find ways around bigoted laws.
This is awesome!
Congratulations to the married couple.
Why did they need skype? Gay marriage is neither legal nor illegal in Texas. Its simply not recognized by the state. They wouldn’t have been arrested if they found an official to marry them in Texas, and their marriage is currently not recognized by the state.
Their marriage exercise does show how stupid, intrusive, and discriminatory the marriage ban is, but the bigots who brought the ban forward won’t deny that it’s discriminatory, and they want it to be.
Sue in federal court for marriage rights!
Congratulations to you both…..your video is really inspiring. I’m from UK where we have Civil Partnerships and gay marriage is pretty much accepted and integrated into society here (or it will be fully when they recognise it as marriage and not as ‘civil partnership’). I cannot believe a great country like USA is so discriminatory and behind the times….get with it US!
This is fantastic. Congratulations, Mark & Dante! (BTW, may i ask, who was the officiant?)
A long happy loving life to you both !
PUBLIC DEBATE INVITATION. Mark Reed and Dante Walkup have appeared to exercise their legal rights as citizens of the USA. I respect their courage and efforts to marry in Texas. I am sure the courts and the citizens of Texas will eventually sort out what is legal and appropriate for Texas marriage laws. . I have a song that is to the tune of “The yellow rose of Texas”. It is on youtube.com and is titled, “Messiah loves homosexuals” . I invite Mark Reed, Dante Walkup and anyone reading this to view the song/video then accept an invitation to publicly debate me in Dallas, Texas over gay rights, the accuracy of the song/video and anything else you with to publicly debate. I will bring rainbow cupcakes to share at the public debate.
So, which one is the ‘husband’ and which one is the ‘wife’?
Marriage = 1 man + 1 woman…
Unless you are Mormon, then it is:
Marriage = 1 man + woman + woman + woman + …
This is a sham and while they may be considered married in Washington, D.C they are still not recognized as married in Texas.
Why is this news? This “marriage” is not recognized in Texas after all. If someone wants to be gay fine just do it in the privacy of your own home. I am so tired of having to remind people like this that children are present at public functions such as sporting events or just out to dinner. They get the message I am sending to them. Some the hard way. The gay agenda will NEVER be accepted as normal in this country so just take it back to the closet where it belongs. It is wrong for people to be like this. Says so in the Bible. Look it up. And for you liberals who like this lifestyle why not just go to another state up north where it’s wanted? Men marrying men. LOLOLOL!!! How silly!!!!!
Congratulations! It’s inspiring to see the slow but steady chipping-away of the religious ignorance and bigotry that has dominated American society for so long. I hope that same sex marriage will be legal throughout the U.S. soon. My twin sister married her longtime partner in Boston last year, and I, a native Texan and man have been married to my wife for nearly 25 years, with 2 kids. We openly support same sex marriage and same sex rights and equality for all. The religious ignorance and bigotry that have so dominated U.S. society for so long must go. It’s time for open minds and open hearts to prevail. Congratulations again and best wishes.
First, congratulations to the happy couple! This entire ban on gay marriage is ridiculous and the fact that Washington D.C. has legalized it while the rest of these yahoo states, including my own, Texas, refuse, is incredulous.
How about “e-divorces” or “e-shootouts”? They would be less dangerous than the traditional versions.
For more information see https://www.law.msu.edu/e-marriage/
Why are gay bashers constantly on this site? Wouldn’t they be happier with a big dick in the mouth?
Looks like I have to answer my own question:
“Could e-married couples also e-conceive children?”
Answer:
Depends on whether they’re using e-condoms.
GetEQUAL, Mark Reed, and others, are AVOIDING a public debate with me in Dallas, Texas. Yes, I will bring rainbow cupcakes to share. I will also bring the KJV Bible as my major reference Book. I plan to be polite, considerate of my debate opponent’s opinion, and stay on topic. The topics of the public debate will be Gay Rights, the accuracy of my youtube.com song/video, “Messiah loves homosexuals” and anything else my public debate opponent or opponents wish to bring to the table.
Gay bashing is impolite and unfriendly. We need to respect other people’s opinions, beliefs and freedom of speech. GetEQUAL, and I can come to a public debate in Dallas, Texas and debate from logic, reason and with resources at our disposal. .
Kenny, get a life. Your bible is irrelevant to issues of contractual law. In fact, it is irrelevant to almost everything except Jewish history. Your bible is wrong in so many ways.
As to the troll who asked which was the wife and which the husband: when two men marry, there are two husbands. So simple, unless your bigotry and brainlessness gets in the way.
Dear Roy, If my Bible is irrelevant to issues of contractual law, then how do you explain the statue of Moses on the front of the Supreme Court Building? How do you explain that right behind and above where the Supreme Court Justices sit is a wall that has a display of the Ten Commandments? From What Book did we get these Ten Commandments? If I am trolling, how do you explain that I have a song/video, titled “Messiah loves homosexuals” with a public debate invitation that you have not accepted? Or to go even further, notice the following. Look at the year that your comment was just posted on this comment page. Whose life on planet earth influenced the calendar to mark the year of your posting as 2010? If my Bible and my song are so irrelevant and “wrong”, then you should have no trouble winning a public debate with a mere troll, like me. Bring your “A” game, your best reference material, your best debate stand-in and show up with that person in Dallas, Texas for a respectful public debate. How many rainbow cupcakes would you like? Genesis 9:13
Hey Kenny,
Do you ever eat shrimp?
Kenny, Moses never existed. He is a legend. Among many other inanities, your bible calls for the stoning to death of anyone who curses a parent. It forbids wearing garments made of more than one material as an abomination. Christianity is a brutal superstition, whose spread is somewhat like a cancer. Religion is a poison, and virtually all sacred texts are cesspits of credulity, cruelty, intolerance, and rank ignorance. The god of the old testament is an amalgam of tribal mountain deity and father figure. There is little evidence that Jesus existed and none that he was in any way supernatural, magic, or even particularly inspired. Certainly there is nothing original concerning the Jesus legend. Ideas such as half-god and half men, virgin births, martyrdom for vicarious redemption of “sin,” and resurrections from the grave were so common in that era and location they were cliches.
Now begone before a house falls on you.
That is the great thing I think i have ever seen in the Dallas Voice. Everyone has the right to feel love and get married. One day i hope that me an my girlfriend will be able to do the same. That was one of the great ideas to get married in a long time. I pray for there long life of happiness.
Congratulations! I wish you both the very best!
Dear Roy, You called me a troll. Well, I am worse than a troll. I am a sinner, saved by grace. You say that “Moses never existed”, but how do you explain the Exodus from Egypt? What is the origin of the word, “Israel”? Invite your best stand-in debater to a publc debate with me in Dallas, Texas. We will debate the matter of Gay Rights, my song, (“Messiah loves homosexuals”), and anything else you wish to publicly debate. Amy, Yes I eat shrimp, but not very often. You have a good point. Old testament says it is not kosher, Leviticus 11:9-12, Deuteronomy 14:9-10. New Testament says Mark chapter 7. Read especially verses Mark 7:20-23. There is something important in this passage for you, Amy.
The LGBT community needs more Death Metal. I’m writing this totally gay Death Metal song called “Post Mortem Santorum Felch” it goes like “Rotting flesh, feces and lube cover your face as you’re leaving the tomb….” and so on.
Rob Halford Rules!
@Kenny, you are indeed a textbook Christian: miserable, unhappy, judgmental, self-righteous and for the most part, universally unpopular. I find your comment “I eat shrimp but not very often” to be amusing. It runs along the same lines of “I lie, cheat, steal and kill, but not very often.” If you actually READ what the bible says, “not very often” doesn’t count (unless you’re a Baptist and you’re referring to drinking alcohol). If you’re going to take the bible literally, then live by it literally. And until you do that (provided you are capable), you have no right to judge or point the finger at anyone.
Good luck getting a divorce in TX… It ain’t happenin’!
if everyone was gay where would children come from, its meant 2 b a man and a woman.i’m not preachin descrimination in as much as i see it as disgustin. I feel its a pschological thing,which d individuals have no control over,but we should not make it look normal
bravo!
would love to talk to the newlyweds and tell the world about http://www.letlovereign.org, a movement to legalize gay marriage. this is a terrific way to keep growing the movement. congrats!!!!
@ agee: didn’t you play Jethro on the Beverly Hillbillies?
If being gay is wrong because it says so in the Bible (and for no other reason than that), then we have no reason to recognize as wrong from a governmental point of view. The first amendment allows free practice of religion, many of which are ok with homosexuality. This includes many denominations of Christianity.
For those of you whose minds are blown by that fact on both sides of this issue, consider that the Biblical condemnations of homosexuality fall into the categories of having extramarital affairs, molesting children, frequenting prostitutes, or engaging in pagan temple rituals. If you take things in context, it is pretty easy to see that loving, committed relationships between same-sex partners were just so foreign to the minds of the Bible’s authors and audience that they just weren’t addressed.
Here is a great testimony. Here is real love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqdQ6_MAH2A&feature=player_embedded#!
@a different John: While you are extremely articulate and apparently very intelligent, you are missing the point. Most people who have religious objections to homosexuality are not capable of thinking on our levels. (I didn’t say they are not willing, but rather, they truly are not able.) In their minds, they believe what they choose to believe. They choose to believe that homosexuality is “wrong”. Therefore because that is what they choose to believe, so it shall be. It’s the classic case of living in a fantasy world. Since ignorance is bliss, I have decided that they should be allowed to live in their own blissful ignorance. It allows the rest of us to live in a state of heightened awareness.
@James Simmons. You remarked about my eating shrimp. Well, like Anderson Cooper says, keeping them honest, I do eat shrimp. Read Mark 7:20-23. Now to the other part of your comments. I do not point the finger at anyone. It is the Word of God that points the finger at all of us. My song, “Messiah loves homosexuals” is based on the same book that tells us the story of the rainbow. ie the book of Genesis. Concerning religious objections to homosexuality, I have none. My message about homosexuality is that as long as it is legal, then it needs to be respected (Romans 13:1-7) The objection to homosexuality comes not from a religion, but from a book, The Bible. I will bring this book to a public debate in Dallas, Texas and meet with you or your stand-in and you bring your books and we will politely debate gay rights and my video.
Okay, Kenny. So far no one has ever been able to show me the word of God. If you’re referring to the Holy Bible, it was written by humans, not by God, so cross that one off your list. Got anything else? As for your objections to homosexuality, you have pointed to a single book (your “Bible”). There are other books that actually provide verifiable and quantifiable scientific evidence that homosexuality is a natural phenomenon, both among humans as well as other species of animals. So again, a single reference book is not going to convince me (or any other educated individual–notice I said “educated”) that there is anything “wrong” with or about homosexuality. As for a public debate with you, (a) I do not have the time and (b) I would not want to see you or anyone else attempt this argument and humiliate him/herself in the eyes of the public. There is no “right” or “wrong” to genetics, therefore a debate about any specific genetic trait (homosexuality included) would be meaningless and a huge waste of time. My suggestion is to take your misdirected negative energy and do something meaningful for those who are in need this holiday season, rather than only thinking about and trying to draw attention to yourself. And once you find an outlet for all your negative thoughts and energy, perhaps you will also feel better about yourself.
So happy for you two i cant wait for the day when i can see my Brother and his partner have their legal wedding. i am a gay rights activist and believe this is a wonderful thing for all americans to see. because true love is amazing!!!!!
Dear James Simmons, After discounting the Bible, you asked me the following, “got anything else?”. Well I do. The Messiah, Jesus Christ. And a public debate invitation with you or your stand-in in Dallas, Texas. Let us start with The Messiah. His followers claim He rose from the dead and is coming back again. Now, all other leaders, who set up the major belief systems that have been around for more than two centuries are dead, with no proof of their resurrection from the dead. Prove that the Messiah, the Lord God (John 1:1-3) did not rise from the dead, please. Rainbow cupcakes at the public debate. How many would you like?
“Prove that the Messiah, the Lord God (John 1:1-3) did not rise from the dead, please.”
Prove to me that he did.
Kenny MBIC
You are Arguing with Idiots. 1 Corinthians 2:14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
John 14:17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
Kenny on good would come from a debate with anyone dose not know the truth. We can pray for them and Speak the Truth in Love. Ephesians 4:15
Some will see the truth and ask Jesus to forgive them and come into their heart and some won’t .
Go ahead and make a snide comment about my spelling, it just shows that no one’s perfect.
Dear James Simmons, you said, “Prove to me that he did.” In other words, you want me to prove to you that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, rose from the dead on the third day after dying on the cross for my sins and yours.
Very well, here is the proof. Please test it. Go outside and look up in the sky. Then say these words. “Jesus, Kenny Merriken says that you love me so much that you can personally prove to me that you rose from the dead. I, James Simmons, now give you a chance to prove it to me, please. Kenny is asking you in prayer to do a miracle to bring about this proof and convince my soul that you are alive. You have one week to prove to me that you rose from the dead, starting right now. Amen” Isaiah 55:6, Jeremiah 29:13, Jeremiah 33:3, Jeremiah 32:27, and Matthew 19:26. Messiah loves you. I love you as a friend.
I’ll do that Kenny. But…last I heard God didn’t like ultimatums. Are you sure that doing what you suggest won’t get me killed? Just asking.
James Simmons. I thought very hard to give an answer your question in a respectful manner. No hoopla, no gimmicks, just straight up between you and God (If there is a God). I could share my personal experiences in Haiti, but that is my meeting with God. My meeting with God is unique to me. Yours, Lord willing, will be unique to you. Yes, it is OK. I wish your week to go well. Let me know what happens. No, I cannot promise what, if anything will happen. It does have risks.
My prayers are with you my friend. Kenny Merriken
“If there is a god.” THAT is the catch phrase. If if there isn’t a god, that makes the whole argument about the morals of or reasons for homosexuality a moot point. And if there really is a god, that still makes the whole argument about the morals of or reasons for homosexuality a moot point. It exists. It always has. It always will. Bottom line: there’s no point to this argument, god or no god, which is the precise reason I will no longer participate.
{IF} James Simmons. I wish to respect your point of view. That is why I said, “If there is a God”. Taking the one week test to see if God is real and that he rose from the dead is a voluntary test. If there is no god, or God, then we do not have to worry about all this talk about what happens after we die. And with no God, then my song/video, “Messiah loves homosexuals” becomes a false, made-up mythical, fictional, fairy tale. It becomes not worth the paper it was printed on. The point of the participation is the key word “IF”. If you exist God/Messiah, then make yourself known to James Simmons within one week after he puts you to the test. Why? Because you love him and gave your life for him. James’ eternal destiny hangs in the balance. Amen. Matthew 12:40 “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Jesus loves you.
There are old laws about food that would be different if they had modern food processing and the knowledge that we have today. But the old laws about things like incest and homosexuality and still valid,
Well, what can I say? If they don’t repent God will surely take care of them!
A. J: You certainly haven’t said anything intelligent, that I will give you. As for what you CAN say, well, I think you just answered your own question: nothing of substance.
Dear A.J. Chilson, when you comment about homosexual-gay persons and repentance you may want to consider backing up your statement with the Bible. It is the Bible and only the Bible that is the final authority over the matter of homosexual-gay marriages. I believe the trend in America today is that the Supreme Court will say that it is legal in all 50 States to have homosexual-gay marriages. Why? Because the Constitution of the USA is not the Word of God. It allows for interpretation and acceptance of homosexual-gay marriages and the Supreme Court, I believe, will rule soon in that direction. Please quote your Bible reference to support your argument. A.J. Chilson.. Now, here is some verses for you to study. It is written, Deuteronomy 5:18, Genesis 19:24, Jude 1:7, I John 1:9