UPDATE 6:30pm Tuesday:
Allison Johnson and Kelsey Smith have been talking about the massive reaction that has been spreading all over the internet.
The reaction has been about the Fargo Forum newspaper rejecting the same sex couple's wedding announcement.
Because of that, The Forum has seen a lot of heat over the past couple of days.
Allison and Kelsey are getting married next week, and wanted to post an announcement about that in the local paper.
The paper simply said no, citing their own policy, and refunded their money.
That was Monday morning.
Since then there has been a lot of support for the couple.
They wanted to announce their wedding, just like everyone else, but then they received an unexpected rejection.
"Initially it was a total punch in the stomach that we were rejected by The Forum, but this just surpasses that tenfold," said Kelsey Smith.
The "this" she refers to is the outpouring of support they have seen from folks in the Valley, and from around the world.
What they're taking from that is what was supposed to be a small announcement in a paper has turned into something much bigger.
"It's making a difference, not just here in Fargo and not just for Kelsey and I," said Allison Johnson. "It's gonna make a difference for the next couple that is in the same position we're in."
They're also hoping the situation has other newspapers around the country rethinking their policies.
Right now, 70 percent of papers in the U.S. allow same-sex announcements.
"Hopefully it's gonna lead to good results not only in Fargo, but hopefully with the coverage that this has been getting, it's gonna make other newspapers wanna, you know, get rid of their outdated policies if they have those in place," said Johnson.
Allison and Kelsey did sit down with some folks at The Forum Tuesday afternoon, and they were given an apology.
They were also assured that the paper is reviewing their policy on same-sex announcements, and a decision could be made as soon as Wednesday or Thursday.
The Forum also assured the two that they would be the first to hear about that decision.
Allison and Kelsey met several years ago in Minnesota, and moved to Fargo last year.
They will be getting married in New York next week.
UPDATE 2:40pm Tuesday: The Fargo alternative newspaper High Plains Reader will publish the marriage announcement rejected by the Fargo Forum. Co-Owner, John Strand said, "it's not even an issue, we have done it before."
--Original Story--
Two Fargo women wanting to announce their upcoming marriage in The Forum newspaper were turned down.
The reason? They're a same-sex couple.
The response on social media in reference to the denial has been overwhelmingly in support of the two ladies.
Allison Johnson and Kelsey Smith say they simply wanted to announce their love, and their upcoming wedding.
All over the Forum's Facebook page, it is plain to see that a lot of people are upset.
Some of the comments:
"Shame on you Fargo In Forum!! Who are you to judge who people love... and who chooses to marry?"
"Discrimination is hate...Get it together..."
"Not posting same-sex marriage announcements is discrimination! Free love for all."
All of these, and many more comments, came about because of the Forum's denial of their request.
Allison received an e-mail saying:
"I'm sorry, but at this time, the forum does not print engagement/wedding announcements for same sex couples. We will refund your $25 publication fee. Thank you."
That message from Dianna Baumann, The Forum's Celebrations Editor.
It was an e-mail denial that has now sparked a lot of anger, not only here in Fargo, but across the globe.
Another comment on The Forum's Facebook page saying this:
"I live in Australia and have heard about this. Well done on advertising the marriage across the world - and well done on letting the world know you're bigot"
Allison Johnson has also written a letter about this to The Forum, as well as the Fargo-Moorhead Bureau and the Mayor of Fargo.
One small snippet from that letter:
"It is a sad day when two people so in love, about to commit their lives to one another, cannot even engage in the smallest of privileges to honor this union."
Valley News Live will have more on this story on Tuesday, including hearing from the couple themselves with their story.
The Forum did respond to our inquiries Monday evening, and said their response to all of this will be in Tuesday's paper.@
@
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and Valley News Live. All Rights Reserved. 
