Hey Dallas Morning News: Same-Sex Marriage Announcements Belong in the Weddings Section

The Issue

Remember a few months ago when Dallas couple Mark Reed-Walkup and Dante Walkup got married over the Internet, in what many consider the first same-sex wedding over Skype? It was a beautiful new media moment, as the couple exchanged vows in front of family and friends in Dallas, with the help of an officiant in Washington, D.C. (where same-sex marriage is legal).

Mark and Dante traveled to D.C. again in December 2010 to tie the knot (a court ruled that their Skype marriage, while good for technology, had very little legal standing). They got officially married at the Jefferson Memorial, and now have a license letting them know that their marriage is legal and legit.

Mark and Dante want to have their same-sex wedding announced in the Dallas Morning News, their home city's daily newspaper. But while the Dallas Morning News says they'll run an announcement in their "Commitments" section, they're unwilling to run the announcement in the "Weddings" section. For the Dallas Morning News, the "Weddings" section is off limits for same-sex couples, even though five states and the District of Columbia recognize same-sex marriage.

The decision by the Dallas Morning News has prompted Mark and Dante to file a complaint with the city, suggesting that the paper is discriminating against gay couples. According to the Dallas Voice, the couple is using a city ordinance barring discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation to make their case. Since wedding announcements are essentially paid advertisements, at least according to the couple, they ought to constitute a public accommodation and as such, the Dallas Morning News shouldn't segregate same-sex wedding announcements to a different section of the paper.

Send the Dallas Morning News a message that same-sex wedding announcements belong in the "Weddings" section. This could be a real teachable moment for the newspaper to follow in the footsteps of other papers that publish same-sex marriage announcements in the "Weddings" section.

avatar of the starter
Michael JonesPetition StarterManaging Director of Campaigns @ Change.org. On the side I write some sketch comedy, and enjoy being the proud parent of the best dog on the planet.
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The Issue

Remember a few months ago when Dallas couple Mark Reed-Walkup and Dante Walkup got married over the Internet, in what many consider the first same-sex wedding over Skype? It was a beautiful new media moment, as the couple exchanged vows in front of family and friends in Dallas, with the help of an officiant in Washington, D.C. (where same-sex marriage is legal).

Mark and Dante traveled to D.C. again in December 2010 to tie the knot (a court ruled that their Skype marriage, while good for technology, had very little legal standing). They got officially married at the Jefferson Memorial, and now have a license letting them know that their marriage is legal and legit.

Mark and Dante want to have their same-sex wedding announced in the Dallas Morning News, their home city's daily newspaper. But while the Dallas Morning News says they'll run an announcement in their "Commitments" section, they're unwilling to run the announcement in the "Weddings" section. For the Dallas Morning News, the "Weddings" section is off limits for same-sex couples, even though five states and the District of Columbia recognize same-sex marriage.

The decision by the Dallas Morning News has prompted Mark and Dante to file a complaint with the city, suggesting that the paper is discriminating against gay couples. According to the Dallas Voice, the couple is using a city ordinance barring discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation to make their case. Since wedding announcements are essentially paid advertisements, at least according to the couple, they ought to constitute a public accommodation and as such, the Dallas Morning News shouldn't segregate same-sex wedding announcements to a different section of the paper.

Send the Dallas Morning News a message that same-sex wedding announcements belong in the "Weddings" section. This could be a real teachable moment for the newspaper to follow in the footsteps of other papers that publish same-sex marriage announcements in the "Weddings" section.

avatar of the starter
Michael JonesPetition StarterManaging Director of Campaigns @ Change.org. On the side I write some sketch comedy, and enjoy being the proud parent of the best dog on the planet.

The Decision Makers

Dallas Morning News
Dallas Morning News
Mert Tezkol
Mert Tezkol
Advertising Representative, Dallas Morning News
Robert W. Mong Jr.
Robert W. Mong Jr.
Editor
Jim Moroney
Jim Moroney
Publisher
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