» When Mark Ketterson contacted the U.S. Naval Academy to arrange a memorial service for his partner, the memorial coordinator asked his relationship to the deceased. Ketterson said that John Fliszar was his husband.
"They were always polite, but there was this moment of hesitation," Ketterson recalled. "They said they're going to need something in writing from a blood relative. They asked, 'Are you listed on the death certificate? Do you have a marriage license?'"
He was and they did, the couple having been married in Des Moines when gay marriage became legal in Iowa two years ago.
Ketterson sent a copy of the marriage license. That changed everything.
"I was respected," he said. "From that moment on, I was next of kin. They were amazing."
I can't even imagine what that meant to him. (via LdlO) / (2) Comments / [ 01.31.11 ]
