Straight couples in Kentucky affected in gay marriage ban
The amendment that seeks to write a ban against gay marriage into the state Constitution could pose problems for straight people in Kentucky if voters approve it next week, say legal experts and those who oppose the measure.
The trouble, they say, is in the second clause of the question, which would declare a “legal status identical to or similar to marriage for unmarried individuals” not valid.
The ambiguity of that language is “like -- looking into the legal well and wondering how deep is it?” said Louisville attorney Sheryl Snyder. “It boggles the mind all the things that this could impact, which is why amending the Constitution should be a very thoughtful process, not something that is lightly done on the issue de jour.” (source)
I'm probably going to get into trouble for saying this with my straight friends, but hopefully, they will understand.
I thought that the argument for amending the constitutions in the states that are going to amend their state constitutions, such as Kentucky, was to protect the sanctity of marriage and keep it “one man, one woman”. Fine. But now that it looks as if straight unmarried couples could be effected by these nasty constitutional amendments, they are all of the sudden concerned that unmarried heterosexual couples will loose some of their benefits.
SO FUCKING WHAT?
I’m pissed as hell that they don’t want to share the burden in this little adventure. This is what discrimination is folks. This is why it’s so ugly. You can’t have it both ways.
Let’s at least be honest about it. You want to keep marriage from the HOMOSEXUALS ONLY. Just say it and be honest about it. But at the same time, you want heterosexual couples to not have to suffer from this law either.
I hope they do suffer right along with the gay couples who will have what few rights they have stripped away. Maybe then, we can start to see change.
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Well, your side of the fence just became my side as well. Get used to it.
I apologize to my straight friends who read this, but this had to be said. It’s about conviction and what is right and what is wrong.
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Tom,
Honestly, I sometimes feel like I'm living in another country other than the United States. I always thought that we would all stand up for equality for everyone (yes, even those we didn't particularly like), when the issue was made clear.
But, even when the issue is clear, some support blatant discrimination. I really do try to be a good American. And, I still feel pride when I hear the national anthem. I used to say that I would gladly give my life to defend my country. I said that because I thought that we stood for something great. Putting people into second class citizenship is not something I'm willing to put my life on the line defending. To be totally honest with you, my pride in my country has been tarnished.
I realize that this fight for equality is going to be long and hard. And it shouldn't be. What does that say about the land of the free?
(To original post):
I can't speak for your straight friends, but I would like to speak for at least one straight person out here. I'm not offended at all by your comments. I also found it interesting that an amendment supposedly designed to "protect the sanctity of marriage" becomes a bad thing when it might negatively affect unmarried heterosexuals, but it's fine when it negatively affects homosexuals.
They should just come out and say that these amendments are designed to keep homosexuals from having the same rights as heterosexuals. Or, if that's truly not the case, maybe this "wording" issue will show some people that there's a reason it's hard to write discrimination against one group of people without being overtly bigoted - PEOPLE ARE THE SAME WHEN YOU DON'T DISCRIMINATE BASED ON RACE, RELIGION, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, ETC.!
Am I completely insane? Why are so many people okay with this crap?
Yes.... but.....
The issue of marriage goes far beyond taxes. If it were that simple, the fix would be simple as well.
The issue with marriage is that it goes far beyond taxes, as heterosexual unmarried couples in Kentucky are most likely about to find out. Marriage affords over 1,000 rights and privileges to couples that non-married couples do not have at the Federal level. Each state is different, but in my state of Connecticut, if me and my partner would be able to get married, we would realize 855 new rights and privileges that we do not have now.
Some of the major benefits of marriage can be read here.
The more I read about what is behind society's refusal to grant gay couples access to marriage has to do with good old fashioned bigotry. It has little to do with protecting the sanctity of marriage. Which is really sad. It says a lot about how far this country has yet to go with issues of equality and basic fairness.
A very interesting point... thanks. If the purpose of the amendment is to preserve the sanctity of marriage, rather than discriminating against gay and lesbian citizens, I suggest that any tax benefits currently enjoyed by married couples be eliminated. This would put single and married taxpayers on an even playing field, and would eliminate the current system of penalizing single taxpayers who now pay a higher tax rate. The really important issue, after all, is to preserve the sanctity of marriage - not the tax benefits of marriage. Right?