Two Fort Lauderdale men recently found instant fame when they became the first gay couple in the country granted an immigration benefit usually reserved for heterosexual married couples. And as Christine DiMattei tells us, they've decided to use their time in the limelight to put Florida's same-sex marriage ban in the spotlight.
Julian Marsh and Tray Popov have two computers in their home office, one for each of them. But when the couple shows off their wedding photos, they use the desktop with the bigger screen. Together, they poke fun at the dorky matching polo shirts they bought for the occasion.
"Remember we went to Old Navy and we bought them", Marsh reminisced, " 'Course, we had to buy them on sale because we don't have that much money. "
But the photograph of their marriage certificate hits a sore spot. The marriage license they brought home from Brooklyn holds no weight in Florida, where same-sex unions are not recognized. But just last month, 55-year-old Marsh and 41-year-old Popov got a phone call from their lawyer that put them in the history books. Which means that Bulgarian-born Popov will not have to leave the United States when his student visa expires.
The news came just two days after the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, a law that denies same-sex married couples federal benefits. But Marsh says he and Popov are still considered second-class citizens in Florida. And if they weren't activists before, they will be from now on.
"And we will be part of a movement to make sure that our marriage is valid in Florida", Marsh said.
Meanwhile, other same-sex marriage advocates statewide are vowing to do the same.
Vanessa Brito is chairperson of Miami-based Equal Marriage Florida. The group started a petition drive to get a marriage equality amendment on the 2014 state ballot. Brito says the Supreme Court's decision provides the momentum needed to overturn Florida's gay-marriage ban.
"It's been in every television and every living room of America", said Brito. "Not just the gay and lesbian living room."
In 2008, a majority of Florida voters passed a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union only between one man and one woman. Jannique Stewart was South Florida spokeswoman for the campaign that pushed for the same-sex marriage ban. She says voters have already spoken loud and clear on the issue.
"I still believe that people will understand that there is significant difference between a homosexual union and a heterosexual union and that they're not equal in terms of the very nature of the relationship", Stewart said.
Gay marriage advocates are exploring other options to get the ban overturned. Alternatives include asking the Florida Legislature to intervene or taking the issue to the courts.
Meanwhile, Julian Marsh and Tray Popov say they've been inundated with messages of support. But Marsh says there was one that absolutely floored them.
"I got message from a straight couple, who sent a picture of themselves. A husband, a wife a child and a pet", Marsh described. "Just saying, 'We're standing right behind you and we understand that what you want is no different than what we have.' That was it."