On Marriage

[tegdoh]

In 1967 the Supreme Court declared, in Loving vs. the State of Virginia: "Marriage is one of the 'basic civil rights of man,' fundamental to our very existence and survival.... To deny this fundamental freedom on so unsupportable a basis as the racial classifications embodied in these statutes, classifications so directly subversive of the

Comments

[tegdoh]

MrTegdho agrees with you 100%. When we were married he was initially against getting a license, just wanted to have the Quaker ceremony. But I was a scardy cat and wanted that slip of paper with all of the protections it contained.

I think in some sense you are correct, that having civil unions available to any two committed adults would make a lot more sense, then have whatever kind of ceremony you wanted to go with it. But that's a huge can of worms and a fundamental change in the law, while changing civil "marriage" to include gay and lesbian couples involves simply changing a couple of words on a form. (would that it were actually so easy)

I think on a very fundamental equality level, denying that gay couples are "married," even in states that allow civil unions, is separate but not equal all over again. Doesn't it imply that their relationship is not as "real" as ours, somehow?

In the end, I take my lead from the gay and lesbian community. If they felt that civil unions were sufficient, I'd have no problem with it. OTOH, if they feel that they are not truly being treated as "equals" without having their marriage recognized by the state, then I'll stand with them in that fight.

hope that was coherent. I'm between classes and must run off to a meeting now.

[mrstater]

I think on a very fundamental equality level, denying that gay couples are "married," even in states that allow civil unions, is separate but not equal all over again. Doesn't it imply that their relationship is not as "real" as ours, somehow?

No, I totally agree with you on that. They are being treated as inferior relationally. The same marital status should be extended to everyone, period. But it would really be better, IMO, for government not to be involved at all, in anyone's marriages, and those unions all be recognized as legitimate.