Valentine, 'un-marry' for gay rights, says 'Rev. Billy'

We usually hear from the colorful activist Bill Talen, known as Rev. Billy of the Church of Stop Shopping, before Christmas when he stages his annual "Buy Nothing Day" and Dance your Debt Away events. But now he's expanding to Valentine's Day.

The angel at Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, shown here in this week's blizzard, is the meeting point for an UnMarry event for couples to call for gay marriage.

Rev. Billy, who specializes in "moral soap operas," is orchestrating a meet-up at the Bethesda Fountain -- the one with the angel you may recall from scenes inAngels in America -- in Central Park for folks who want to declare that no one should marry until gay couples can, too.

Couples are invited to an "unMarriage" event at 1 p.m. where, according to the web site,

Brides and Grooms will suspend their vows in a ritual officiated by Reverend Billy. Tragic and hopeful love songs will be sung. Participants will be issued an official unmarried certificate suitable for framing.

The unMarry idea isn't original -- Sarah Silverman made the same pledge on The View last week, saying getting married right now "is like joining a country club that wouldn't allow Blacks or Jews."

Last year a group of Minnesota Quakers decided they wouldn't certify weddings for straight couples until gays were legally eligible to wed.

Celebs have been saying this for years and the New York Times found ordinary engaged couples agreed to "No 'I Do' Till Gays Can Do It, Too" in 2006.