"We Do" campaign puts tear-jerking face on fight for gay marriage

You shouldn't have to know someone personally to support their basic civil rights, but taking an issue out of the abstract and into the real world always seems to help change minds. By that logic, the Campaign for Southern Equality's new WE DO Campaign should go a long way, thanks to these endearing, heartbreaking new videos of gay couples applying and getting rejected for North Carolina marriage licenses.

As part of a planned campaign, same-sex couples have been coming to the county register's office in Asheville, North Carolina for the past ten days requesting marriage licenses with the knowledge that under state law they will be denied. The officials rejecting them seem surprisingly sympathetic to the cause (even as they're turning the couples away), but also pretty uncomfortable to be filmed for the project.  The campaign is very timely, and as WE DO's website explains:

"[The campaign]  takes place as statewide debate intensifies about a proposed amendment to the North Carolina constitution that would ban marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships for same-sex couples."

Here's hoping this classic protest tactic actually makes a difference. In the meantime, check out the video above and get ready to cry a little bit at your desk.