Same-sex marriage takes place in Hillsborough County

Thursday, April 29, 2004

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The two couples got married Thursday afternoon.
The challenge to traditional marriage rights is being tested in the Bay area as two gay couples exchanged vows at the Hillsborough County Courthouse Thursday.

It's all part of the International Day of Clergy Same-Sex Marriage Rally.

Reverend Phyllis Hunt is the senior pastor at the Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa.

She says the state doesn't give her the power to marry the lesbian couples but she hopes it sends a message to the government.

"We will be standing out, standing up, raising our voices in bold protest to have our right to marry," Hunt said before the exchange of vows.

The Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg has its own message on same-sex marriage.

Spokesperson Joe Grote says even though the church teaches to love and treat homosexuals with respect, he says that's not the case for same-sex unions.

"God's design of marriage is to procreate and love each other, complimentary union of the two, man and woman," Grote said.

Grote and Reverend Hunt do agree that the issue is a contentious one likely to play out in this year's election.

Reverend Hunt says one of the couples that exchanged vows have been together some 25 years. She believes same-sex unions will be legalized in her lifetime, though Grote disagrees.

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