Now that Harmon is engaged, he wants to get married in his home church like his siblings did. Except that his home church’s constitution forbids same-sex weddings. But there was stated interest in amending the church’s constitution to allow for same-sex weddings. And this process has apparently been ongoing for the better part of five months.
The church membership finally voted over the weekend. Derek and Jesus needed at least a two-thirds vote in order get the change approved. 103 people voted in favor of allowing the wedding. Unfortunately, 98 people voted against allowing same-sex weddings at the church. So no wedding.
Harmon and Gonzalez now plan on marrying in California where they live where they say that “inclusiveness is embraced.”
My thoughts…
To Salem Lutheran and other churches: This whole voting for the wedding process is a complete turn-off for me. It would be better for church communities to make these votes before there is an actual couple and an actual wedding. As it is now, the community just spent the last few months debating same-sex marriage and belittling the couple. Voting like this just creates dissension within the large church community.
To Harmon and Gonzalez and other same-sex couples: Don’t assume that California churches will be more inclusive. I can highlight a dozen “progressive” churches throughout California who will refuse to allow same-sex weddings. Iowa has been a marriage equality state for ten years – just around the time that Proposition 8 took away marital rights for same-sex couples in California. Just as there are places that don’t honor our marriages here, there are places in California who reject us.