Clergy readying to perform same-sex marriages in Va.

[unhappycamper]

http://hamptonroads.com/2014/08/clergy-readying-perform-samesex-marriages-va



The Rev. Jim Whalen at the New Life Metropolitan Community Church of Hampton Roads on Norview Avenue in Norfolk, seen Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014, will be one of more than 60 clergy members going to courthouses Thursday to officiate the first same-sex weddings in Virginia's history if they become legal.

Clergy readying to perform same-sex marriages in Va.
By Diane Tennant
Jillian Beck
Rashod Ollison
The Virginian-Pilot
© August 20, 2014

If same-sex marriage becomes legal in Virginia on Thursday, clergy will be ready. Court clerks may or may not be.

Everything hinges on whether the U.S. Supreme Court orders a stay of a lower court ruling that overturned the commonwealth's ban on gay marriage this year. The court has until 8 a.m. Thursday to decide.

But one thing is certain: the Norfolk residents who filed the lawsuit leading to all this will not be rushing to the altar. They will delay their nuptials so they can marry at an altar, in their church.

"We've waited a long time for this and this is a big deal for us," said Tim Bostic of Norfolk. "Our church family is very important to us and we will get married in our church. When we started this, I didn't know that was going to be an option."