Here is a fascinating headline:  An evangelical pastor is advising couples not to sign California’s gender-neutral marriage licenses as a protest.

The story goes on to say that the pastor has persuaded his daughter and her spousal unit not to sign their marriage license because “Bride” and “Groom” were replaced with “Party A” and “Party B” after the advent of marriage equality.  Their marriage is not legal unless they sign the marriage license and register it with the state.

What fascinates me about this is that this couple is choosing the very legal limbo that gay couples are trying to climb out of via civil marriage.  Fundies, welcome to the Gayborhood!Although I’m the first to appreciate protest, I find the pastor to be an enormously selfish person.  He isn’t going to bear the brunt of “his” protest – his daughter and her companion will.  He has persuaded them to be in a relationship with NO legal responsibilities or protections.

In the couple’s own words:

“We are traditionalists – we just want to be called bride and groom,” said Bird, 25, who works part time for her father’s church. “Those words have been used for generations and now they just changed them….We just feel that our rights have been violated” she said.

Well, wait till the rubber meets the road.

Officials said the law is clear.

“I can understand their frustration,” said Gloria Coutts, assistant county clerk for Placer County.” But their marriage is not registered with the state.”

Bird and Codding say they are trying to figure out what to do next. Bird said she does not know what she will do if she should become ill and need insurance [which she could get through a her companion if they were legally married]. “I really don’t know,” she said.

For now, they are busy with their family (she has two children from a previous marriage and he has three) and starting their new life.

“We feel like a a bride and groom,” said Bird.

When one of his kids get sick and she isn’t allowed to pick them up from school or see them in the hospital, or one of her kids gets sick and she can’t afford the medical bills because they are uninsured, then perhaps they’ll understand the value in making sacrifices (like signing a “Party A, Party B” form) for the sake of civil marriage.  Until then, they have chosen to create a legally unstable household.  They have chosen for themselves and their children the legal ghetto that they are trying to force gays to live in.  I hope they enjoy it.  I’ll wave to them as I pass them on my way out.

Cross-posted at Blue Mass Group.