Mississippi Agriculture Museum Rejects Request Made By Gay Couple To Hold Commitment Ceremony

In Mississippi, newly engaged Kevin Garrard and Stephen Walters visited the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum last week hoping to reserve the church for a ceremony where each man would express his love for the other in front of family and friends. "We were turned away for being homosexual," said Garrard, 24, of Madison. "I understand that it is illegal for gay people to get married, but it shouldn't be illegal for us to love each other." According to The Jackson Clarion Ledger, they aren't the first same-sex couple hoping to plan a commitment ceremony on state grounds. In 2009, the museum sought an opinion from Attorney General Jim Hood regarding a similar request. "We are of the opinion that the Department (of Agriculture and Commerce) is certainly authorized to restrict the use of museum property for events and functions that are legal under state law," Hood wrote. "Therefore, (the department) is authorized to prohibit same gender marriages on museum property." Andy Prosser, Agriculture and Commerce Department spokesperson, referred to the opinion when asked about Garrard and Walters' request. "Commitment events, as far as the state goes, are a representation of a union, and state law says that a union can only be between a man and a woman," Prosser said. Even though the couple's ceremony wouldn't produce a legally recognized marriage, Prosser said it is their intention in holding such a ceremony that would violate the law. Though they called the event a wedding when seeking to rent the facility, the couple said they were not planning to break any laws with their private event. "We're not actually getting married; we're just committing ourselves to one another. There is no paperwork," Walters, 21, said. "I don't know what the difference is between our scenario and a barbeque," he said. Walters, who proposed to Garrard on Valentine's Day, said he is frustrated that they won't be able to spend their special day where they'd hoped. Both men grew up in the country: Walters in Star and Garrard first in Bogalusa, Louisiana, and then in Terry - so they enjoy the rural setting of the museum, they said.