Why am I getting married?
Scott and I were talking to the woman who was going to do our ceremony the other day. We were going over what we wanted and didn't want, traditions to include or not include, when she asked us (almost as an afterthought) "why do you want to get married?" Scott's answer was an unromantic "pretty much for legal reasons".
I know she was a little put off by that, and for a little while I was too. Is that the only reason he proposed? But when I thought about it some more, that is indeed the big reason I'm getting married. I'm not going to love him any more after the ring is on my finger. We already live together, and I'm in it for the long haul marriage or no marriage. I'm not going to see our relationship all that much differently, but it is going to make a world of difference to how the government is going to look at me.
Gays and lesbians are fighting for the legal right to marry, not because they'll love each other more, but because there are a lot of legal rights and benefits that come with that marriage license. Boring things like filing joint taxes (that can end up saving a butt load of money, I hear) as well as big important things like making medical decisions and taking leave from work should he get sick. And what if I lose my job and insurance? Having that little piece of paper would save us a lot of money and paper trying to make sure we each have those things covered legally.
I know he loves me, and I don't need a ring and a piece of paper to tell me that. But you know what? I want a party to celebrate.
(And I want to take his last name- that'll be a whole lot easier to take care of with a marriage license.)
I know she was a little put off by that, and for a little while I was too. Is that the only reason he proposed? But when I thought about it some more, that is indeed the big reason I'm getting married. I'm not going to love him any more after the ring is on my finger. We already live together, and I'm in it for the long haul marriage or no marriage. I'm not going to see our relationship all that much differently, but it is going to make a world of difference to how the government is going to look at me.
Gays and lesbians are fighting for the legal right to marry, not because they'll love each other more, but because there are a lot of legal rights and benefits that come with that marriage license. Boring things like filing joint taxes (that can end up saving a butt load of money, I hear) as well as big important things like making medical decisions and taking leave from work should he get sick. And what if I lose my job and insurance? Having that little piece of paper would save us a lot of money and paper trying to make sure we each have those things covered legally.
I know he loves me, and I don't need a ring and a piece of paper to tell me that. But you know what? I want a party to celebrate.
(And I want to take his last name- that'll be a whole lot easier to take care of with a marriage license.)