Samantha Brookover just wanted to be able to put her partner, Amanda Abramovich, on her health insurance.
They weren't looking to make a statement about same-sex marriage. But after the couple arrived at the Gilmer County clerk's office on Feb. 3 and were told by a deputy county clerk, Debbie Allen, that their relationship was wrong and that God would judge them, their story has resonated with others throughout the country and ignited fury from supporters of LGBT rights.
After the Gazette-Mail ran a story on Feb. 10 about the way the couple was treated, they saw a national online news outlet pick up their story. They saw hundreds of comments online, ranging from the sympathetic to the homophobic. They've also received gifts and well wishes.
The dozens of messages sent directly to the couple have been supportive. But they have also seen some online comments that have caused them concern. Some commenters cursed Allen. Others called her "sub-human," "a silly cow," a "witch," "inbred," "mentally ill" and "disgusting." People wrote "drop a hopper full of coal on her," "punch her in the face, as long as it's your religious prerogative," "Two words: throat punch" and "I hope Allen dies homeless."
Some people also posted the mailing address and email of the county clerk, Jean Butcher.
The couple says the LGBT community isn't going to achieve full equality by fighting hate with hate.
"Yes, what she did was hateful and it was wrong, but to return her actions with more hate - it's only going to cause pain and suffering," Brookover said. "Hate fought with hate is only poison."
She said she would have preferred contact with the clerks be "constructive."
"Some people are saying she should be hung or beaten," she said. "That's not what we wanted. We don't want people to be angry with her. You can be upset, but don't just spew forth hatred."
Abramovich noted that hateful comments were what upset them in the first place.
"Name calling, hatred and derogatory statements do nothing but instigate a situation," she said. "Go out and love your neighbor, no matter who they are."
Contacted this week about whether she'd received any hate mail, Butcher hung up on a reporter.
"I'm not commenting on that; thank you," she said.
Allen previously told the Gazette-Mail that she briefly and calmly told the couple what they were doing was wrong and that God would judge them, and then continued assisting them as she would other couples. Butcher previously said that she told Brookover's mother by phone that her views were similar to Allen's. She said that they were issued the license, and "that was the main thing."
According to the couple, Allen huffed, took their driver's licenses, made copies, slammed down the copies and then, for two to three minutes, yelled that what they were doing was wrong in her eyes and in God's eyes and that no one in Gilmer County would ever marry them.
The prediction came true. The couple said they weren't able to find any ministers in Gilmer County who would perform the ceremony. They said they had to drive to Parkersburg instead, about two hours away, in order for a family friend to marry them.
It was an "inconvenience," Brookover said. But it was worth it.
They already felt married, since a commitment ceremony in 2014. But now, Abramovich is planning to take Brookover's last name. They also don't have to worry about running into problems if one of them needs to visit the other at the hospital.
And Abramovich gets to be on Brookover's health insurance.
"It was my ability to see Amanda if she's really sick," Brookover said. "Yes, it's a piece of paper, and yes I was already married to Amanda in my eyes, but the piece of paper opened up so many doors for the rest of our lives."
The couple appreciates the gifts, but they ask that anyone wishing to show support in the future make a contribution to Fairness West Virginia, the state's LGBT rights advocacy organization. Brookover noted that the incident showed West Virginia still has a long way to go when it comes to tolerance for the LGBT community, and she believes Fairness West Virginia's work to raise awareness of LGBT issues is combating that problem.
"It's great, but we can't do anything with gifts and presents," Brookover said. "We can do something with money to help fund a good organization."
Reach Erin Beck at
304-348-5163, or follow
@erinbeckwv on Twitter.