A father and son are getting married.
Well, technically, but it’s not quite what it sounds like. It’s actually pretty wonderful.
Daily Star reports, after more than 50 years together, Bill Novak and Norman McArthur are set to be married in Pennsylvania, USA. Novak is McArthur’s adopted “father”. The adoption was the only way the couple could have their relationship recognised in some legal capacity.
Novak and McArthur became registered as domestic partners in New York City in 1994, but upon moving to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, they discovered that due to the state’s same-sex partnership laws, their relationship would no longer be legally viable.
Patch reports that when the couple tried to get their estates in order they were told, “hell would freeze over” before Pennsylvania granted same-sex marriage, and were advised by a lawyer that adoption was the only way to give legal “underpinning” to their relationship.
So in 2000, Novak adopted McArthur.
Now 15 years later, their marriage aspirations could soon become reality. In 2014, The United States District Court declared Pennsylvania’s Marriage Laws prohibiting same-sex marriage unconstitutional.
Before they wed, they had to dissolve the adopted father/son relationship.
Patch reports Terry Clemons, a founding partner of law firm Clemons, Richter & Reiss, P.C., successfully petitioned the Orphans Court of Bucks County to vacate the adoption and allow them to marry.
On the 14th of May the vacation was granted, and Novak and McArthur immediately applied for a marriage licence.
“We are ecstatic beyond belief,” McArthur told Patch. “I feel an enormous sense of not only relief but freedom that we can finally do something in Pennsylvania that I’ve been dreaming of for years.”
The official wedding date is still to be set.
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Top Comments
I think anyone who'd go to these lengths shouldn't be denied marriage. Besides, gays should have as much right to be married and miserable as the rest of us 😉.
couldnt agree more, why should hetro's be miserable alone, we can share the love.
This gives a bad name to adoptive fathers and adopted children
How so? They weren't "father and son" prior to entering into a relationship - the adoption was a legal formality they felt they had to enter into as otherwise in the event of a major illness or death they wouldn't be recognised as in a relationship and the other partner would not be able to make usual domestic/married couple life choices or have those equal legal rights that heterosexual couples can take for granted
How??
I think you need to read the article again. The 'adoption' was about legal necessity, not relationship reality.
Yes how? totally agree.