Freedom. It’s a word that embodies the greatest of American values. And when the freedom or civil liberty of any American is in jeopardy, it is up to us to speak out for what is right and find a solution.
When it came time for our forefathers to declare independence, leaders such as Patrick Henry spoke up. When it came time for black Americans to tear down segregation, leaders such as Rosa Parks spoke up. And as our state finds itself in the turbulent throes of unjust marriage laws, the Coddings of Roseville, California are speaking up, too.
After having their marriage license rejected by the state of California, the Coddings sued the state for damages, and on Friday, April 2, their lawyer announced that the case had been settled in favor of the Roseville couple.
In August 2008, Rachel Bird and Gideon Codding refused to sign their marriage license because new forms didn’t use the terms “bride” and “groom.” Now, the state has agreed to accept the couple’s license, recognize them as “bride” and “groom,” and pay for both license and legal fees. Rachel and Gideon Codding have emerged as leaders in the fight to preserve what is obviously the most important part of marriage: verbiage.
Because of a California law passed in May 2008 that expanded the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples, marriage licenses were changed to gender-neutral terms. The traditional, good old-fashioned terms “bride” and “groom” were changed to the impersonal, unromantic terms “Party A” and “Party B.”
Such bland, unfeeling words were not enough for the Coddings, who were not content with being referred to as “parties” instead of people. Rachel Bird and Gideon Codding were married in a church ceremony in August 2008, but were not recognized as married by the state until last week, all because they refused to compromise their strong belief in the power of words. What conviction.
“Our personal objective is to be honored and recognized by the state of California as bride and groom,” Gideon Codding told the Sacramento Bee. The Coddings’ goal is an admirable one, as everyone has the right to be called a bride or a groom on their wedding day.
Their lawyer argued, “The state’s previous rejection of the marriage license caused the Coddings considerable anguish as well as financial harm.” Bird suffered the intolerable injustices of being unable to change her name or use her groom’s medical benefits, as such privileges are only reserved for married couples recognized by the state.
And now, because of the story of this brave couple, California officials have decided to change the state marriage license forms once again. On the new forms, effective Nov. 17, 2008, the terms “Party A” and “Party B” have been changed to “First Person Data” and “Second Person Data,” and next to each term are a pair boxes titled “bride” and “groom.” Now, each person has the option to check either “bride” or “groom,” though it is indeed optional and not mandatory.
Thanks to the Coddings, those Roseville freedom fighters, the sacred wording of the California marriage license is more inclusive than ever. Surely the Coddings, as well as all Californians, are happy to know that marriage licenses now have the capacity to indicate not only a bride-groom marriage, but also a groom-groom marriage and a bride-bride marriage.
May the Coddings be forever recognized for their unwavering belief in the power of words, and for being the ones who brought California and its marriage licenses one step closer to marriage equality ““ which was clearly their goal all along.
If you feel as strongly about marriage equality as the Coddings do, e-mail Stoll at rstoll@ucla.edu. Send general comments to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu