Lesbian couple married at courthouse

PONTIAC – On April 29, holding the hand of their 21-month-old son Paul, Heidi Barnette and Angela Kurtz of Clarkston were married by the Rev. Deb Dysert, Pastor at the Divine Peace Metropolitan Community Church of Clarkston.
Prior to the ceremony, held outside of the Oakland County Courthouse building in Pontiac, Barnette, 30, and Kurtz, 25, applied for a marriage license and were refused. This is not the first time the couple has tried to apply for a marriage license in Oakland County. They were part of a group of same-sex couples that attempted to apply and were refused on Feb. 13, 2004.
Both women said they did not expect this time to be any different.
When Rev. Dysert entered the courthouse with the couple, her robe set off the detector as she went through the security checkpoint. When a security officer asked what she had with her she replied, "All I've got is Jesus."
The ceremony itself was brief, with an exchanging of rings and vows. "You make this commitment without benefit of a marriage license or the resulting sanction of the state and its laws and statutes," said Rev. Dysert. "You will have only the love of God and the support of the lovers of justice and equality to support you. Lean on that support today, as you again promise your lives to one another."
At the end of the ceremony Rev. Dysert said, "With the authority vested in me through the Church and recognized by the State, I pronounce your marriage solemnized."
When asked why she and Kurtz had this public ceremony, Barnette said, "Because we've been together for 4 and a half years. We've created a family together and we want it recognized." She said they had gotten a lot of flack from family members who would prefer the couple stay in the closet.
According to Rev. Dysert, the wedding was done as part of the International Day of Clergy Support for Same-Sex Marriage in order to draw attention to unjust marriage laws nationwide. Although Michigan is not a state that prohibits clergy from performing marriage ceremonies without a government license, Rev. Dysert said it crossed her mind that she might be arrested. "I was prepared just in case," she said.
Those in attendance included press, members of Divine Peace, supportive clergy, representatives from American Friends Service Committee, and some of the couple's family members.
Rev. Dysert considered the ceremony an act of civil disobedience. "I'm a great believer in the scripture," she said. "And I believe that all things are possible with God and God is even greater than the state legislature."