Atlanta’s LGBT Community Celebrates DOMA Decision
Charles Edwards / WABE News
Underneath flying rainbow flags and amid car horns honking in support, Nabil Mousa stands at the intersection of 10th and Piedmont in Midtown Wednesday afternoon with partner Scott Richter at his side.
They, along with hundreds of other members of Atlanta’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, celebrate what most consider a gay rights victory: the end of the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
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Tears well up in Nabil’s eyes.
“I cried like a baby, and I still am,” he says.
As powerful as Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling was, it’s not why Nabil cries.
His tears come from one word that’s just rolled off his partner’s tongue: ”Yes.”
Scott and Nabil agreed to wait to tie the knot until the federal government would recognize their marriage.
Today’s that day.
“My entire family rejected me. And this makes a difference,” says Nabil of the Supreme Court ruling. ”It’s in everyone’s face saying, ‘Look, he counts. He’s getting married.’”
Although the US Supreme Court ruled the federal government can no longer deny equal benefits to lawfully wed same-sex couples, it only applies in states where such unions are legal.
That’s not Georgia.
Faced with staying here and having their marriage ignored, or moving to a state where it’s recognized, they’ve chosen to move.
“We want to be in a place where we can be recognized, where we can actually file federal income taxes together,” says Scott.
The couple hope to adopt children, but they feel Georgia’s discriminatory stance against gays and lesbians will stand in the way.
“Georgia is still backwards,” says Nabil. “We can’t wait.”
The couple, both in their 40s, think they’ve waited long enough.
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