WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is joining with the Center for Equality in Arkansas and calling on the Northwest Arkansas Times to drop their discriminatory policy of refusing to run the engagement and wedding announcements of same-sex couples. Recently, the paper rejected an announcement submitted by Cody Renegar and Thomas Staed.
The newspaper says it will only publish the announcements of couples who can legally wed. Arkansas law does not permit loving, committed same-sex couples to marry.
“We see archaic policies like this in newspapers across the country, and it’s a reminder of how discrimination against LGBT people can truly impact every aspect of our lives,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “It’s unfortunate enough that the Arkansas government refuses to recognize the relationships of all LGBT Arkansans as legitimate, but it’s insulting that a local newspaper won’t publish a simple wedding announcement. The Northwest Arkansas Times needs to get with the times and update their policies.”
