New policies will help marriage

From all the other stories that I have read from other same sex couples, the thought of making the relationship “official” is very important, not only for all the legal issues surrounding marriage, but because the feeling of being second class is gone. I don’t honestly understand why that is such a difficult thing for people to understand.

The news that some of the state’s largest employers are cutting off health benefits to same-sex couples sounds to some like a step backward. After all, isn’t Massachusetts supposed to be a bastion of gay rights? [...]

At first glance, it sounds like what’s happening in some other states. Michigan, for instance, has announced it is dropping domestic partner benefits for state employees in response to voter approval of a referendum prohibiting not only gay marriage, but any other benefits reserved for traditional marriage.

But in Massachusetts, the reasoning is different. Here, same-sex marriage has been legal since last May. The domestic partner benefits are being dropped because they are no longer needed to insure employees in same-sex couples are being treated fairly. Now that gay couples can get married, there is no need to extend family benefits to people who haven’t committed to forming a family.

And by adjusting these benefits in line with the rights same-sex couples now enjoy, Massachusetts is doing the opposite of what it’s been accused of over the last year: It is strengthening the institution of marriage. (source)

I look at a state like Michigan, for example, who not only passed a state constitutional amendment making gay marriage illegal, but they also made any form of civil union illegal. The governor of that state, citing that she had to obey the law, ordered that all state agencies stop honoring any benefits offered to same sex domestic partners. Honestly, if that’s the way they really feel about their gay citizens, I would leave the state. But that’s just me. I have said that before and I’ve been raked over the coals for “running away” and being a “coward”. It’s not that I’m running away and I’m certainly no coward.

Simply put, I don’t want to support, through my tax dollars or any other means, any institution or state that supports bigotry as a normal every day part of it’s operation. If I have a choice not to pay (such as moving from that state), I would do so. The state will therefore not profit from my taxes as a hard working citizen. It would also lose my talents and gifts that I can offer to that state, not to mention all the revenue that they would get from my purchases.

If I could do it to the Federal Government, I’d do the same thing. Bigotry is wrong in all cases. People need to start realizing that money is a very powerful thing. Everyone wants it. Cities and towns need revenue for their schools and services. And, that comes from everyone. Every single time that I can, I make my money count.

For example, a month or so ago, I got a catalog from the Virginia Ham Company. Apparently, sometime in the past, I purchased something from them on line. I actually do most of my shopping on line, except for groceries. Anyway, I sent the catalog back to the Virginia Ham Company and requested that they permanently take my name off their mailing list. I told them that because of the state constitutional amendment passed in Virginia prohibiting gay marriage and any recognition for civil unions in state benefits, I would no longer do business with them or any company located in the State of Virginia. It’s important that they know why. If more people would do this, more companies in states like Virginia might actually go back to their state legislature and demand the law be changed.

Money is power. It really is.