Two Missouri newspapers refused to run a wedding announcement from an Independence same-sex couple.
On May 17, Mike and Chuck Hewitt legally tied the knot in Lamoni, Iowa, and wanted to share the news. They tried to place wedding announcements in the Independence Examiner and Kansas City Star, but the newspapers rejected them.
Here's what the Star and Examiner refused to print:
Charles A. and Michael J. Hewitt were married on May 17, 2009, in Roy A. Cheville Chapel at Graceland University Lamoni, Iowa. Curtis Filer officiated with accompaniment by Skip Frizzell, and witnesses Zach McLaughlin and Ann Frizzell. Present at the service were George B. and Anna M. Hewitt, Parents of Charles, along with many friends and supporters. Charles A. & Michael J. Hewitt are lifetime members of Community of Christ and attend the Cornerstone Congregation in Independence.
The Examiner ran the announcement online for a week, but then pulled it and refunded the Hewitts' money. The Hewitts were told that the Examiner won't recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions in its pages.
The supposedly liberal Star wouldn't publish the announcement either. Chuck Hewitt says he would have happily paid the $75 fee or more (he went over on wordage) to have the announcement appear in the daily. But after sending the information to the Star, they were rejected.
"We were sad that we couldn't just go and put our happy
announcement in the local paper," Chuck Hewitt tells The Pitch. "That
just surprised us more than anything."
Nine years ago, Mike and Chuck Hewitt exchanged rings in a commitment ceremony in Kansas City, Missouri. When they were legally married in Iowa last month, they exchanged the same rings.
Chuck Hewitt says it was special for him to finally, legally give Mike the ring and say after nine years that he still wants to commit his life to Mike.
"You know when it's right," Chuck Hewitt says.
For more, check out KMBC's story.
Update (11:26 a.m., Wednesday, June 3): Kansas City Star reader rep Derek Donovan tells The Pitch that the "policy was extremely outdated" and will be changed to allow wedding announcements like the Hewitts' really soon.
"Senior management had a meeting after this request and decided that the policy is going to change in the very near future," Donovan says. "I can't give you an exact deadline. I'm sure if they got a request today, they'd run it."
Update (4:47 p.m. Wednesday, June 3): Donovan also explains on his blog.
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This is why I left my hometown so many years ago--the Erics and Sallies claim Christianity but refuse to practice it--Eric's idea of normal (rejection, isolation, prejudice) makes my skin crawl. Here's to the courageous and happy couple. I realize this was a year ago and can only hope that local papers have emerged into the 21st century with only a modicom of egg on their collective faces.
Congrats to Sallie for speaking her mind and a majority of the church members minds as well. How rediculous is this. Poor Graceland. What a wonderful place it was and still can be if we don't just roll over and let things like this be accepted as normal. God, please show us the way, and let our eyes and hearts be opened to the truth and now what we find to be easiest and least confrontational.
Congratulations, Mike & Chuck, and shame on Graceland and shame on the church for silencing the minister who performed the service. (and on the Examiner)
Some day we'll look back on all this like we do on other actions of cruelty, bias, prejudice, ignorance, and shudder. Luckily, you have many bright, loving people who support you!
God bless you, Mike and Chuck. Winfred and I wish you many more happy years together.
Bryan Monte
it would appear that someone else named "john", who uses lowercase and speaks french, responded.
i congratulate you on your wedding and your show of love. i pray that God will bless you richly. and i like the shirts. i wear hawaian (sp?) shirts all the time.
it is time that society and churches realized the message of the worth of all persons as found in jesus' message.
john
Toasts to the couple, jeers to the Sallie! Congrats on your love! Sorry America is an asshole sometimes!
I too say shame on Sally and the Pres. of Graceland University. This church has been called to be a Community of Christ. Will you tell me when Christ turned his back on those that were "less" desireable in the eyes of "common" people? It is far past the time that this church stands up and starts conducting business like the church that they claim to be called to do. For years, they hid behind RLDS and fought to explain who they were not. Now, they have a new name and claim to be a community of christ but yet are not willing to open there minds, hearts, and doors to welcome and accept "ALL" that are called. What a shame and disgrace to the name that they are claimed to be! Chuck & Mike, God speed!!! Thank you for taking a stand and showing the world that you are what the church represents, all inclusive, loving, welcoming, a true Community of Christ.
Sallie, how unfortunate of you to speak on behalf of your church. You show the real issues involved here with yourself and many others. Hate is not a family value and if Graceland is a liberal arts college free thinking must be part of that process. I would suggest if you are speaking as the sole spokesperson for the school in the Star. It is tragic. Shame on you. I would encourage young people to avoid Graceland like the plague if others are like you.
We are deeply saddened to hear of such a ceremony taking place on our beloved campus. If Graceland had known the nature of the service, they would not have been allowed to use the chapel. Too bad they had to decieve to get it. Pres of Graceland said, "Such an event occurred on Commencement Sunday, May 17 when a same-sex marriage took place at the Roy A. Cheville Chapel on our Lamoni Campus. The event was booked through our Campus Ministries office as a "worship service" and in the hectic days preceding Commencement neither I nor members of the Executive Council were aware that a same-sex wedding was planned....
Community of Christ, Graceland's sponsoring church, relies upon current policy that does not allow its ministers to perform marriages between two persons of the same sex. Given current church policy, we would not have authorized the May 17 wedding at Graceland with a Community of Christ priesthood member conducting the service."
Shame, shame.
So glad we were able to be a part of your wedding day. I was going to say that the paper's excuse that there was a state law prohibiting their printing of your announcement seemed unbelievable in light of the freedom of speech (and press) under the constitution. I am glad to see that in the mean time there is a statement of policy reform. Thank you for being brave enough to push the issue and make people think again. We stand with you. -- Maybe you should re-submit your announcement!
Pat and Sam Marmoy
Independence, Mo.
@john- You may be right! Well played.
But really--they'll take ads for gentlemen's clubs but not print a gay wedding announcement? Are we still not past this?
I don't think it was so much about the politics. It's those SHIRTS. Quelle horreur!!!
I don't think it was so much about the politics. It's those SHIRTS. Quelle horreur!!!
So sorry to hear about this discrimination. Congratulations on your wedding and your lifetime commitment!
Chuck and Mike,
We wish we could have attended your wedding in Iowa, but health reasons kept us closer to home.
We extend best wishes to you, and trust that the day will soon come when discriminatory GLBT policies of governments, business/industry, and churches--worldwide--will be overturned by a vast groundswell of consensus: all persons are of equal worth, and have equal protections and benefits under both law and polity.
Richard Howard
Independence, Missouri
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