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Orlando strangers to marry in the name of marriage equality

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"Hi, Son!"

Those were the words of Harvey Miller, broadcast through his daughter's cell phone set to speaker while a circle of friends and media listened in.

FeldAppAbstr_775577477.jpgHarvey's daugther, Hannah, had just told her father she was getting married to a man she barely knows. It was her fiance's idea. His name is Brian Feldman, he's an Orlando-based performance artist and 3 p.m. on on Feb. 12, he will wed Miller, 29, at the Orange County Courthouse, just because it's legal to do so. Feldman is making a statement about the unfair laws governing same sex marriage, highlighting the problems of a system that allows a man and a woman who have never met to marry just because they are a man and a woman, while blocking committed, same sex couples from forming the same lifetime union.

"Congratulations to me!" exclaimed Miller as she sarcastically pointed out how "good" it makes her feel that she has more rights than LGBTs.

Miller found out about Feldman's plan from local media, as did two other women who also showed up to FeldAppCap_372959252.jpgmarry him. They spun a bottle of Aquafina purchased from a courthouse vending machine to decide who would be the lucky wife.

Feldman says he's "delighted" that someone took his bait and now that he has a wife to be, "this is like cruise control" until their ceremony on Friday. They had met a few times over the past couple of month, both citing Orlando's small arts community as the reason why. The couple behaved like strangers, sitting side by side as Miller called her father, but when they'd interact, it was awkward and they did not touch.

Miller told her father that they'd live in the same houses where they live now. He said Feldman sounds like a "nice Jewish man" and that if his daughter is happy, then so is he.

Watermark was at the courthouse during the application process - see a photo gallery here. And be sure to check back after the wedding date this Friday for ceremony coverage.

Subscribe to comments feed Comments (3 posted):

CampScottie on 08/02/2010 19:08:16
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So glad someone showed up! An inspired idea. It looks like the media took notice which, in my mind, is a large part of the point of this act. Congrats, Brian!
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Miriphoto on 08/02/2010 19:30:10
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Hannah and Brian - You are an inspiration to those of us who sit around thinking about how unfair this situation is and don't do anything about it. I sincerely hope your actions shine a bring light on absurdity of discrimination and inequality in our nation.

We are ALL EQUAL!
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perfecthannah on 08/02/2010 21:39:38
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It's wonderful to see how many people are becoming vocal about their support for same-sex marriage rights as a result of this... union... between me and some guy. But it would be intensely moving to see people take action!

Please, give to a pro-marriage equality charity of your choice OR just use the link provided below to donate to the Human Rights Campaign. Even small donations are appreciated.

https://secure3.convio.net/hrc/site/SPageServer?pagename=main_donate_go

And writing to your State and Federal representatives to let them know how you feel is FREE and an important component to responsible citizenship. You can find your representative's information here:

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/officials/?lvl=L

Thank you all for believing in positive change.
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