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Anti Gay Marriage arguements do not hold up to the light of reason!
"We cannot accept the view that Amendment 2's prohibition on specific legal protections does no more than deprive homosexuals of special rights. To the contrary, the amendment imposes a special disability on those persons alone. Homosexuals are forbidden the safeguards that others enjoy or may seek without constraint"
-Justice Anthony Kennedy,
writing for the majority of the U.S. Supreme Court in the decision overturning Colorado's Amendment 2 referendum "We cannot accept the view that Amendment 2's prohibition on specific legal protections does no more than deprive homosexuals of speci... more -
Would your husband use your last name?
A Los Angeles man has won the right to use his wife's last name following a lawsuit against the State California that lasted two and a half years.
After he married, 31-year old Michael Bijon wanted to use his wife's last name, but found that though it was a relatively simple process for a married woman to adopt her husband's last name, with the roles reversed, he would be subject to an entirely different process involving a $350 fee, a court appearance, a public announcement, and a whole pile of paperwork.
After getting stuck in a mountain of red tape, Michael and his wife Diana Bijon called on the California chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union for a little help with their problem. Following their successful lawsuit, California changed its laws, making it possible for married couples and domestic partners to put their preferred name on marriage and DMV paperwork, irrespective of sex.
This is certainly a change that's long overdue. To quote the ACLU's SoCal legal director, Mark Rosenbaum, "This disposes of the rule in California that the male surname is the marital name to the same trash bin where dowries were once tossed out."
As a writer, I'd used a pen name for almost a decade, so changing my name after marriage just didn't make sense. Being a feminist, it also rankled that it was the woman who was asked to sacrifice part of her identity, unnecessarily, and by default.
I've been married now for the better part of a decade, and find the seemingly old-fashioned attitudes and expectations of people and institutions with regards to surname choice quite bemusing. Much of my family still insists on calling me Mrs. X on correspondence. They know full well that I never changed my name, in part to make a point. I also use Ms. rather Mrs., since I think that the change in courtesy title according to marital status, which is another women only thing, is also anachronistic. I figure that those who persistently call me Mrs. X are making a point of their own about the traditional values to which I refuse to subscribe.
Personally, I've always liked the double-barreled option, which literally brings both sides together with a new family name. Michael and Diana Bijan could have gone this route without a change in the law, but in their case, Michael felt far closer to his wife's father, which is why he wanted to use her last name only. For me, the double-barreled choice didn’t make sense, since my name was also my trade mark (and our names joined with a hyphen sounded a little convoluted).
The current humorous Hollywood fashion for combining names (as in TomKat and Brangelina) actually seems rather sensible to me. If John Mayer marries Jennifer Aniston, they could go by the name Mayerston or Anistayer. Similarly, if George Clooney ever decides to get hitched to Sarah Larson, they have an option of adopting Larsooney or Cloonson as their new mutual family name. At least it'd make for a plethora of interesting new hybrid names (though probably some unfortunate ones too, what if Helen Hunt marries Cameron Crowe?).
Then again, I like that other Hollywood tradition of getting married and keeping the name people actually know you by. That option certainly made the most sense to me. What do you think? A Los Angeles man has won the right to use his wife's last name following a lawsuit against the State California that lasted two and a... more -
New Jersey: Our State Has Issues
If you're an out-of stater, now you'll know what we're concerned about. And if you're a New Jerseyan, you'll sympathize :-)
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For Gay Democrats, a Primary Where Rights Are Not an Issue, This Time - New York T...
For the first time in two decades, gay voters find themselves in an unusual, if happy, predicament. The three leading Democrats have staked out similar positions on issues that resonate with gay men and lesbians. Although none of the three candidates back gay marriage, they all support same-sex civil unions and say they would fight to repeal the militaryâ??s â??donâ??t ask, donâ??t tellâ?? policy. And each of them says he or she would champion a federal anti-discrimination law that would protect lesbians and gay men. For the first time in two decades, gay voters find themselves in an unusual, if happy, predicament. The three leading Democrats have s... more
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Pope's Ancient Homophobia
Spain legalized gay marriage and annoyed the pope. During a recent visit to Spain the pope announced, "[family is] based on the unbreakable union of man and woman and represents the privileged environment where human life is welcomed and protected from the beginning to its natural end." Under this definition, the millions of gay and lesbian couples and their children are not considered family. Can anyone think of other families that do not fit that definition? Maybe your own? Spain legalized gay marriage and annoyed the pope. During a recent visit to Spain the pope announced, "[family is] based on the unbre... more
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New Hampshire Legalizes Civil Unions
New Hampshire will formally legalize gay and lesbian civil unions at midnight tonight. The first 100 + citizens will have ceremonies tonight outside the state house. Couples expressed mixed feelings. On the one hand they are happy any rights will be formally recognized by a state institution. However, they are still disappointed by the inequality of the law. Over 1000 federal rights are still denied to gays and lesbians who can not marry.
New Hampshire's new law represents progress though. Their democratically led legislators legalized civil unions without a court mandate. Only Vermont and Rhode Island are counted gave rights to gay and lesbian couples without judicial involvement.
[The linked article mistakenly reported that Oregon will legalize civil unions at midnight tonight. A Bush appointed federal judge delayed Oregon civil unions until sometime in Feb. 2008] New Hampshire will formally legalize gay and lesbian civil unions at midnight tonight. The first 100 + citizens will have ceremonies ... more -
Gay marriage shouldn't be an issue
People should be able to marry whomever they want
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Civil Rights Fiight of our Time
No one ever points out that straight folks have messed up the institution of marriage far more than anyone else ever could. Britney Spears, anyone? No one ever points out that straight folks have messed up the institution of marriage far more than anyone else ever could. Britney Sp... more
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Foreigners Marrying in the US
New York requires a 24-hour waiting (sobering-up?) period between getting a marriage license and marrying. So you can snag your license on Friday afternoon ($35) and marry on Monday morning ($25), leaving a weekend in between to frolic around the city. New York requires a 24-hour waiting (sobering-up?) period between getting a marriage license and marrying. So you can snag your licens... more
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San Diego Mayor Supports Gay Marriage
The Republican mayor of San Diego reverses his stance and comes out in support of gay marriage.
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Gay marriage goes way back
Civil unions between male couples existed around 600 years ago in medieval Europe, a historian now says. (MSNBC)
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United Parcel Service Agrees to Benefits in Civil Unions
NYT: United Parcel Service said yesterday that it would offer health benefits to its employees partners in civil unions in New Jersey, 10 days after Gov. Jon S. Corzine wrote a letter urging it to comply with the states five-month-old civil union law. NYT: United Parcel Service said yesterday that it would offer health benefits to its employees partners in civil unions in New Jersey... more
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Corzine Enters Dispute With United Parcel Service Over Who Is a Legal Spouse
NYT: Gov. Jon S. Corzine of New Jersey sent a letter on Friday urging United Parcel Service to provide the same benefits for civil union partners as it does for married couples, intervening for the first time in the question of whether companies are appropriately following the states mandate for equal treatment of same-sex couples. NYT: Gov. Jon S. Corzine of New Jersey sent a letter on Friday urging United Parcel Service to provide the same benefits for civil uni... more
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Civil Unions
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Civil Unions
