WARREN Transsexual's case has them talking

Opinions vary on whether a transsexual man and his fianc & eacute;e should be granted a marriage license.
By STEPHEN SIFF and PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Does love conquer all?
City residents, young and old, are divided on whether they think it should.
As Jacob Nash and Erin Barr of Howland try to get past the latest judicial snag in their quest to get hitched, the couple has water-cooler conversation going throughout the area.
Trumbull County Probate Judge Thomas Swift denied the couple's first request for a marriage license because Nash, the groom, did not mention on a form that he had previously been married. He was born a woman in 1964, but has an amended birth certificate saying he is a man.
Senior center
"I just don't think it is normal," said Jennie Peppy, talking about the couple's marriage plans with other retirees at the SCOPE Senior Center in Warren.
"It could lead to other things. Pretty soon it could lead to same-sex marriage and that would be bad," Peppy said.
The view was echoed by the Rev. Joseph Gavitt, 83, of Warren, who was also passing his morning at SCOPE.
"It's absolutely wrong." he said. "What they want to do is contrary to God's laws. The judge should deny the license."
That sentiment was not unanimous at SCOPE, where one might expect to find a preponderance of old-fashioned views.
"They are male and female now," said Charles Petrarca, 88, a retired printer from Warren. "I think it is the people's own business."
Legal stance
Atty. Deborah Smith, who represents the couple, has argued that the couple should be granted a marriage license because state law says that to get a marriage certificate, one person must show proof of being male and the other must show proof of being female.
The couple first applied for a license in August, but after a hearing in September, the judge denied the request. The couple is appealing and has filed another application for marriage.
A Nov. 5 hearing date has been set to determine if the license should be granted.
High schoolers
Many Warren G. Harding High School teenagers, meanwhile, think love is more important than gender.
"In some ways, I don't think that it is right, but if it is what you feel like doing and there is no law against it, it is fine with me, I guess," said Greg Latessa, a freshman. "America is supposed to be a free country."
Senior Brandon Giovannone was even more supportive.
"I don't see anything wrong with it," he said. "If you are in love, you should get married and that is what love is all about."
Opinions about love and righteousness were at the crux of the issue for many teens.
"It's sin," said Caress Russell, 14. "They can love each other like friends, but they shouldn't be allowed to marry."
Calvin Hill, 17, thinks the power of love should triumph.
"I believe love is a bond and if they have that bond why should anyone try to break it," he said.
"If they are happy, then it shouldn't matter to anyone else.
"No one else is affected."
siff@vindy.com
sinkovich@vindy.com