Ashcroft Sued Over Gay Marriage

[Cannikin]

(Tampa, Florida) A Tampa area lesbian couple is filed suit in Federal court Tuesday against U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft to have their Massachusetts marriage legally recognized in the rest of the country.

Rev. Nancy Wilson, a Metropolitan Community Church minister, and Paula Schoenwether, a family marriage counselor. The two have been together for 27 years and were married July 2 in Massachusetts, the only state where same-sex marriages are recognized.

They are represented by controversial attorney Ellis Rubin who has become the biggest private litigator for same-sex marriage. Rubin currently has five additional suits underway in Florida (story) but this is the first one challenging the Federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Rubin is representing the couples at no charge. More than two decades ago he was on the other side of the gay rights issue working for Anita Bryant in fighting a civil rights ordinance in Miami that protected gays and lesbians from discrimination. The ordinance was rolled back, largely due to Rubin's work He says by offering free services to same-sex couples he is "trying to atone".

http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/07/072004domaSuit.htm