Not All Gay Couples Cheering Connecticut Civil Unions

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/09/093005connAdvancer.h...

When Connecticut's civil unions law comes into effect at midnight the LGBT rights group that successfully fought for the law will celebrate with a party, but not all same-sex couples in the state are cheering.

Many gay and lesbian couples say civil unions are a sham and only marriage will do. One couple, John de la Roche and Michael Hargrave say they'll boycott the party sponsored by Love Makes a Family.

"I cannot force myself to go and dance at this. I just think it's really insulting that we have to sit in the back of the bus," said de la Roche who has been in a relationship with Hargrave for 13 years.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. Until the country gets real about this

I hope they do the civil union and party like crazy. "Marriage" is a state of mind. If you say you are married, you are. (as long as the legalities are the same)

[mitchtv]

12. Married until your partner dies

Then the county reassesses your property with the 50% gift you just got,and its current value; and one more gay senior loses their home. The other levels of Gov't , I presume, take their cut of this "gift". "If these walls could talk"

[TallahasseeGrannie]

16. Well that sucks

I had no idea. I thought civil unions took care of all the legalities. Thanks for setting me straight.

[mitchtv]

17. it won't happen in Calif

that is taken care of. until this year only one county, SF,did not re asses. It is very spotty, what rights you have Calif is more comprehnsive than most. The immigration factor is the second most grating/onerous problem. especially when I see strate people bringing not only spouses, but entire families; and I can't bring anyone?I should pay less taxes, not more

[Meeker Morgan]

18. About inheritance etc and gay couples

Make damn sure you have a written and notarized will.

You can also put whoever you want as next of kin for the hospital, but you have to plan ahead.

There is no need for proof of "insurable interest" if YOU name your beneficiary.

No this is not the same as equality, keep on fighting for marriage.

But at least some of the horror stories can be avoided by prudent planning.

[Siyahamba]

14. The Connecticut civil unions only provide a fraction of the same rights

Unlike Vermont, Connecticut only offers a few of the rights married couples get.

[Boomer]

19. The legalities are NOT the same

The difference between a civil union and a legal marriage is not just a semantic one -- civil unions do not offer the same protections of property and inheritance across a wide spectrum of benefits.

[Beaver Tail]

2. I tend to agree

Nothing Short of marriage will do.

[FuzzyDicePHL]

3. Not marriage?

Then not equal.

[hughee99]

4. What is the difference between a "civil union" and a "marriage"

legally? What rights does one confer that the other does not? I'm not really up on this issue. Could someone please help.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. Civil union is a state sanctioned union, while marriage is a

religious union which the state has no business delving into in the first place?

I'm not anti-gay marriage; I'm anti-marriage, period. All unions should be civil unions, and if a couple wants to go a step further, find the church of their choice and go for it. The state has no business saying this marriage is good and that one is bad. It violates the first amendment.

[Tamyrlin79]

7. I agree with this.

if marriage is a religious sacrament, the state has no business in it. Once again, the religious right wants it both ways.

of course, I will say that the ones who do not support separation of church and state are consistent. But not the secular conservatives (few though they may be these days...)

[benevolent dictator]

20. Actually, marriage started as a property contract through the government.

Religion got involved because often the clergy were the only ones who could read and write the marriage contract

[Tamyrlin79]

6. to name a few:

1. You have no legal standing in a state that does not have a civil union statute (whereas every state has a marriage statute). As a same-sex marriage, the state MAY not recognize the union anyway (thanks DOMA!!!), but you have a better chance of getting in under another states divorce and child custody statutes if you are "married" rather than civil unioned.

2. Marriage keys into federal benefits. Thus, under a CU regime, you may be eligible for state benefits as all married people in that state are, but not the federal ones.

3. If you are married in one state, you have a better standing to sue for that relationship to be recognized in another state that has not instituted same-sex marriage or civil unions.

[hughee99]

8. Thanks. n/t

[davidinalameda]

10. civil unions aren't valid in any other state

except for the one in which it was formed

marriages, at least heterosexual ones, are recognized in every state

if you have a civil union in say Vermont and move to Virginia, where they are against the law, any rights you had in Vermont are lost

[Siyahamba]

15. "Letting the states decide" doesn't bestow the federal-level benefits

There are a number of rights granted by marriage at the federal level - immigration is a big example. Leaving marriage up to the states keeps same-sex couples from having equal rights even if they live in a state that has equal marriage.

[TechBear_Seattle]

13. The biggest difference

The United States system of law is based on a concept called "common law." This means that past court rulings influence future court rulings, and that, eventually, past court rulings can have the effect of law.

Many of the presumed rights, privileges and protections of marriage are conveyed through common law and not statute. Depending on the state, things like inheritance, powers of attorney, authority over a spouse's minor children, hospital visitation, "conjugal visits," and a great many other things exist because of court rulings related to marriage, not civil unions.

Then there is the way the US Constitution is worded. "Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. (Article IV, sec 1)" California is required to recognized Vermont marriages because California has marriage, too. California is NOT forced to recognize Vermont civil unions because California has no laws granting rights to civil unions.

[Laughing Mirror]

9. Civil unions nothing to dance about

Only marriage will do.

[damntexdem]

11. Get the state out of the marriage business.

Have only civil unions available from the state. Leave marriage to churches, communities, any other formations that want to call it that. Still let ministers conduct civil unions, so they can do it in their marriage ceremonies; but let more non-ministers be justices of the peace for purposes of witnessing and recording civil unions.

[Siyahamba]

21. A lot of people propose this.

I think it has a lot of popular support. Have any politicans spoken in favor of this?