What Stopped Kenneth And Armando From Getting Married On 90 Day Fiance
90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way's Kenneth Niedermeier and Armando Rubio have had quite the disappointing journey to marriage. When the reality show returned after a mid-season hiatus, Kenneth and Armando were on their way to pick up Armando's daughter, Hannah, who was staying with her grandparents. It was also the first time Armando's family met Kenneth.
Unfortunately, the visit was far from smooth, as Armando's dad had to be coaxed out of the house to meet his son's fiancé (at that specific moment, Armando's family did not know they were engaged). Hannah and Armando's mother greeted Kenneth affectionately, but the kindness faded into disappointment when the happy couple announced they were planning to tie the knot. "I can tell that she's embarrassed, that she's hurt by this announcement," Kenneth told cameras of Armando's mother's reaction. "And it's sad and I'm sad for Armando that his mom took it as something horrible and not something beautiful."
While Kenneth and Armando wait for Armando's family to accept their love with open arms, they have now run into another disagreeing body: the state.
Kenneth and Armando can't legally get married
In a shocking twist, Kenneth Niedermeier and Armando Rubio were denied a marriage license in Mexico, despite it being legal in the country.
In a sneak peek published by People, Kenneth and Armando are seen going to the marriage license office excited that they have finally reached the milestone. "Kenny and I have been talking about marriage for some years now," Armando tells cameras. "It's something we want, something we dream of. Today we are ready to make that a reality. We are going to the marriage office to apply for our marriage license."
Their dream was quickly crushed when the clerk denied their license despite being presented with the appropriate documents. "We have to give you a negative answer," she told the 90 Day Fiancé couple in Spanish. Confused, Armando explained that same-sex marriage is legal in Mexico and they brought everything they needed. The clerk had to advise that this is not an abnormal issue. As NPR reported in 2015, Mexico's Supreme Court ruled that denying same sex unions is unconstitutional, but the "decision did not go so far as to invalidate state laws. Local city clerks can still refuse to grant a marriage license to same-sex couples." So in practice, the ruling is a guideline, and not law until each state adopts it.
While Kenneth and Armando have not had it easy, their love has already crossed through many obstacles. Fans can follow their journey every Sunday on TLC.