DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. – As thousands of same-sex couples in Florida prepare to get their marriage licenses Tuesday, there is a new call for marriage ceremonies to start back up again at the Duval County Courthouse.
The clerk of court discontinued all ceremonies there for all couples in the wake of the same-sex marriage decision.
The letter from the Duval County Democratic Executive Committee is three pages long and has fewer than 30 signatures, but it sent a big message to the Duval County clerk of court -- to bring back wedding ceremonies for everyone.
"In their eyes it is not discriminatory because it is the same for everyone," said James Poindexter of the Duval County Democratic Executive Committee. "The truth of the matter is that's what makes this worse -- it impacts everyone. We're not just looking at same-sex couples, we're also looking at straight couples who, excuse me, want to say, 'Look, I want to come to the courthouse and get married here.'"
In a statement sent to News4Jax, a spokesperson for Duval County Clerk Ronnie Fussell gave his reasoning.
"Mr. Fussell said some of his people felt a little uncomfortable doing it. It could cause discrimination down there with those who are uncomfortable. We wanted to eliminate any unfairness."
Local pastor and gay rights advocate Valerie Williams couldn't be more thrilled about her home town will be issuing licenses for same sex marriages. History was made when the state's first same sex wedding happened in Miami-Dade County.
70% of all Americans live in a state where same-sex marriage is legal.
"The rights that we have had to pay for... meaning protecting our property, protecting our assets for our spouses, that's really all that's going to change. The love is still the same, we were still married before God. Now our state recognizes it along with our government," said Williams.
The Duval County democratic executive committee is asking Fussell to reconsider the decision to discontinue courthouse marriage ceremonies. They said, not only is it unfair to anybody getting married, but that it's also a loss of revenue for the city.
"It seems to be inevitable. Marriages in Jacksonville are going to happen whether they're at the courthouse or not. But for the city, or the county, or state, in a state building to say, because it's going to be same sex marriage, we're no longer going to marry anybody, seems to be a very poor message that we're sending out to people around the country," said James Poindexter, who's part of the Duval County Democratic Executive Committee.
Duval joined a list of at least 14 other Florida counties no longer performing wedding ceremonies. Those counties included two local counties -- Baker and Clay. Others included Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Calhoun, Liberty, Franklin, Wakulla and Pasco.
While some same-sex couples and supporters looked to go to other counties for their wedding ceremonies, others are trying to find ways around the current dilemma.
In an interview with News4Jax's Tom Wills, Attorney Hank Coxe called on the Florida Bar to allow space in the courthouse for all wedding ceremonies to continue. Coxe said this went beyond equality.
Others agreed, including James Poindexter, who said in the days moving forward that people at home should step up as well.
"Print out your own letter," he said. "Put it in an envelope and send it to Mr. Fussell. The more people he hears from who say, 'This is wrong, I want to have the right to get married, I want everyone to have the right to get married,' the better, the more likely he is to do the right thing."
In St. Johns County:
- A marriage license will cost the couple $93.50
- To be married as a couple at the courthouse, it will cost an additional $30
- To get married the couple must have proof that they have completed an approved premarital course. If they haven't, it is a three-day waiting period
In Nassau County, conditions are all similar except:
- They ask that both partners be present
- They also ask that if you want to get married at the courthouse to give at least 24 hour notice