What does the Tri-Cities think about same-sex marriage?
TRI-CITIES - The first hurdle for gay couples has nearly passed, due to the Senate vote.
But there's a different hurdle for people like Dusty Thurman.
Just finding a place to get married.
"There's so many people out there who still have this mind set, this fear mind set”, says Thurman.
Dusty and her partner eloped to Canada to get married.
And even if gay marriage is made legal in Washington, many churches in the Tri-Cities likely won't marry the couples.
I called more than a dozen non-denominational churches, with the expectation these would be more likely to say yes than churches which fall under a larger, structured religion.
All of the ones I talked to said that they would not marry same-sex couples.
Pastor Thom Fields is with Garden Christian Assembly.
He says the decision isn't about hate.
"Marriage is hard work and I think this bill and legislation dissolves marriage” says Pastor Fields. “It doesn't not elevate same-sex marriage to the level of biblically-based marriage."
But churches aren't the only place to hold a wedding, many will happen right in the courthouse or elsewhere.
I spoke to different wedding venues in the Tri-cities and the ones that got back to me said the same thing, they would support same-sex marriage. They said they wouldn’t turn down a customer just because of their sexual orientation or gender.
Deborah Peck runs the Moore Mansion.
She didn't want to speak on camera, but says, "Anyone that wants to get married at a venue should get 110% equality. Am I the only one to judge? I don't think so."
Dusty is encouraged to think people won't have to leave the country or even the state to have the same rights as other couples.
"It's one piece of paper that clearly states this is my person, this will be my person and you can't take my person away”, says Thurman.
But there's a different hurdle for people like Dusty Thurman.
Just finding a place to get married.
"There's so many people out there who still have this mind set, this fear mind set”, says Thurman.
Dusty and her partner eloped to Canada to get married.
And even if gay marriage is made legal in Washington, many churches in the Tri-Cities likely won't marry the couples.
I called more than a dozen non-denominational churches, with the expectation these would be more likely to say yes than churches which fall under a larger, structured religion.
All of the ones I talked to said that they would not marry same-sex couples.
Pastor Thom Fields is with Garden Christian Assembly.
He says the decision isn't about hate.
"Marriage is hard work and I think this bill and legislation dissolves marriage” says Pastor Fields. “It doesn't not elevate same-sex marriage to the level of biblically-based marriage."
But churches aren't the only place to hold a wedding, many will happen right in the courthouse or elsewhere.
I spoke to different wedding venues in the Tri-cities and the ones that got back to me said the same thing, they would support same-sex marriage. They said they wouldn’t turn down a customer just because of their sexual orientation or gender.
Deborah Peck runs the Moore Mansion.
She didn't want to speak on camera, but says, "Anyone that wants to get married at a venue should get 110% equality. Am I the only one to judge? I don't think so."
Dusty is encouraged to think people won't have to leave the country or even the state to have the same rights as other couples.
"It's one piece of paper that clearly states this is my person, this will be my person and you can't take my person away”, says Thurman.
More to Explore
Learn about changes coming to commenting