When the Los Angeles courthouse opens at 9 AM on Friday, February 14th – Valentine’s Day – veteran civil rights activist and Metropolitan Community Church founder Rev. Troy D. Perry and his partner of 18 years, Philip Ray DeBlieck, will be standing in line.
      They plan to apply for a license to marry.
      “And I’m encouraging thousands of gay and lesbian couples across the US to do the same,” said Perry, whose churches perform more than 6,000 same-sex weddings each year. “It’s time to move the debate on gay marriage forward. It’s time for equality. It’s time for the US to catch up with Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, France and other countries that are providing marriage rights for gay couples.”
      According to a press release, Rev. Troy D. Perry, a U.S. citizen and founder of the predominantly-gay MCC with more than 46,000 members and adherents in 22 countries, is encouraging GLBT couples to go to court houses and municipal offices on February 14, Valentine’s Day, to apply for marriage licenses.
      “For me it’s not a religious issue, it’s a legal issue. It’s a matter of equality and simple justice. If my country is to live out its promise of equality, all laws must be applied equally, and that includes our marriage laws.
      “Imagine the power that will be unleashed if thousands or tens of thousands of gay and lesbian couples apply for marriage licenses on the same day,” said Perry.
      Perry, never shy when it comes to advocating for GLBT rights, plans to invite the media to cover the event. “I want to be sure our state legislators hear our voices.”
      Why now?
      “I’ve seen so many important advances for gay and lesbian people in my 34 years of activism. But before my life is over, I want to share in the same right afforded to most Americans; a basic right that is still denied to gays and lesbians. Before my life is over, I want to legally marry my wonderful partner Phillip.”
      And if his application for a marriage license is turned down? Perry is undaunted. “Well, realistically, the odds are that it will be turned down. And if so, I’ll tell them, ĪThank you and we’ll be back next Valentine’s Day to apply again.’ Then I’ll step outside and talk to the press about equality and fairness for God’s gay and lesbian children. And I will be back next year.”
      Perry believes the action can increase attention to the gay civil rights movement and he is not hesitant to help lead the way.
     “We have a great legacy of public actions that helped to move forward the cause of justice. A century ago, women took their demands for equality under the law to voting booths and polling places. Half a century ago, African-Americans took their demands for legal equality to segregated lunch counters and places of opression. It’s time for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons to advance our own quest for equality by taking our demands to courthouses and municipal offices with actions that demonstrate both the depth of our love and the unfairness of the restrictive marriage laws.”
      In recent years, gay and lesbian groups have used Valentine’s Day to call attention to the lack of equality in marriage laws. By encouraging thousands of gay and lesbian couples to actually apply for marriage licenses, Perry hopes to increase the focus on marriage rights.