Why Are Gays Wasting Their Time This Way?

While gays certainly have a right to protest in any way they see fit, personally, (as a lesbian) I feel that there are more productive protests they could be conducting.  At the end of the day what have they accomplished? Nothing. No one is thinking about what they're hoping for, all they're thinking about is the stupidity of anyone who goes down to apply for something that they know they're not going to get. ( Not saying that they were stupid, saying that is what the anti-gay marriage folks are probably thinking, IMO.) If it was legal but the city wasn't giving them out, that would be a good reason to hold that type of rally. If the city was giving them out but one person inside wouldn't, that would be a good reason. To me (again as a mature, all the way OUT lesbian) this was a complete waste of energy and effort that could have gone into something more productive. Strictly my opinion of course, live from Bikini Bottom; your mileage may vary.

GAY RIGHTS RALLY Same-Sex Couples Try To Apply For Marriage Licenses; Opponents Also Turn Out For Rally

Huntington , Cabell County , West Virginia 

Reported by:  Darrah Wilcox
Videographer: Kenney Barnette
Web Producer: Jeff Morris                                                    Video From West Virginia's Eyewitness News
Also Contributing: Dave Benton
Reported: Feb. 14, 2013 12:50 PM EST
Updated: Feb. 14, 2013 10:00 PM EST

About a dozen same-sex couples walked into the Cabell County Clerk's Office to try to apply for marriage licenses Thursday morning during a rally by a group of gay rights activists and supporters. 

Justin Murdock helped organize the event. "You know a man and a woman can meet out here on the sidewalk and go in and get a license, but my partner and I who have been together for over two years now, we're in a committed. We have a home together. We're a part of this community, a part of our church. We still can't get a license." 

He and his partner went into the Cabell County courthouse Thursday to apply for a marriage license. 
"We know we're going to get turned down, but we don't think that's right. 

He's not alone. Several other same sex couples applied for a license this Valentine's Day. 

Jessica Crum also went with her partner. She said, ""We're American citizens, we're patriots, and at the end of the day we deserve equal rights." 

Many friends turned out to support them. Raine Klover is straight and married, but helped organized the equality rally. Klover said, "I believe that equality is universal. That everyone deserves the right to be married, to love the person that they love, and to have the rights and privileges that marriage confers. " 

While there were some counter-protesters, the group decided collectively to ignore them. 

Murdock said, "We're here with a message about love and equality. From our standpoint there here with a negative of hate and inequality. 

Although gay marriage is not recognized in the state of West Virginia, couples wanted the act of applying for licenses to represent their hope for a change in that law. 

Murdock said even though they were denied a license, he felt the message was successful, and they're not ready to give up. "We'll keep applying until we can get one." 

The group of gay rights activists and supporters held the same event last year on Valentine's Day and this year the demonstration has grown.