Has anyone else had problems with marriage licenses...

[Critters2]

in Scott County...or anywhere else?

As many of you know, I traveled to Davenport Saturday with two parishioners, to restate their vows and sign their license. By the time we went, they had had to redo the application twice, because of signatory glitches. Once the recorder said the notary had signed on the wrong line. I can't recall what the second problem was, but when they spoke to the person in the recorder's office the second time, the staff person said they didn't like dealing with Illinois gay/les people and "we're working to get this repealed". But, they finally got the license, we went over, and I signed it.

I've been in ministry for 22 years--23 come, September 14. I spent 6 of those years in Iowa, the rest in Illinois. In all that time, I have never once had a license returned because of a problem with a signature. One time I mailed a license and it never got to the courthouse, but beyond that I've never had an issue. Until now.

The couple called this morning, and said they'd gotten a call from the recorder's office. They need to re-sign the license, because they used their birth names, but intend to hyphenate their names. They argued that, for now, their un-hyphenated names are their legal names, since Illinois won't recognize the marriage. They intend to go through the process of a legal name change, but haven't yet. Otoh, Illinois law says that if you consistently use a name, it becomes your legal name after 7 years. So, the issue could be argued either way, I suppose.

But I don't think I've ever had a recorder (or clerk, who does this job in Illinois) be that careful about a bride's signature. I know for a fact that some brides have signed their married names, some their birth names, some hyphenated names, and no one ever said a word. I was skeptical, at first,
as to whether these women were being hassled because they're both women, but I think I believe it now, and it pisses me off. One of the women said this morning, "we were so pleased that Iowa would do this, but now we're really disappointed in Iowa." I told her I know Iowans who are supportive and proud of the court's decision, and that this is just one or two people who are being pitas.

I'm considering calling Scott County and giving someone a piece of my mind. I'm wondering if you know of others who have had similar experiences.

Thanks for reading.