Gay Marriage: June 2006 Archives

This couple is so similar to Kent and myself in so many ways. We have both been together over 30 years and we both live in Connecticut. The only difference at this point in time is that we are both healthy, as far as we know.

This is my greatest fear. The state of Connecticut passed this Civil Union bill a couple of years ago and now think that everything is just fine and dandy. Tell that to this couple who may lose they home.

Civil Unions are crap that have no federal benefits associated with them. The faster we all realize that and demand equality, the better.

They live on a circle of tidy houses in a subdivision nestled in Windsor Locks, a couple in love since they met in a Hartford bar 30 years ago.

Another gray-haired, tax-paying family of two. You might like them as neighbors.

They own their home. There are retirement accounts for the future. They go to church. There were these plans, too, for hiking, kayaking and enjoying life for years to come.

This being the land of civil unions, Rob Scanlan and Jay Baker figured things were looking up for an aging gay couple in the suburbs.

Then, a little over a month ago, Rob was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - ALS - and they were reminded that there isn’t equality.

It’s different for gays, even in a blue state with a civil union law. The problem is not that ALS is a death sentence. It’s that Congress and the federal government recognize only marriage when it comes to taxes, Social Security and medical issues.

Because federal law does not recognize civil unions, Rob and Jay could be faced with liquidating everything - home, savings, retirement - to pay for costly care. Meanwhile, I’m told, a married heterosexual couple can sometimes take advantage of federal benefits so that a surviving spouse can at least protect the home.

Rob and Jay’s case is not entirely clear yet, but the inequity remains.

“You have a couple that has been together all this time. They have paid their taxes and they have contributed to the community,” said Gary Buseck, legal director for the Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders in Boston. “Why are they treated differently? There is no answer.” (source)

It seems that we have moved on from bashing gay couples for all the ills of marriage, to illegal aliens, or some other topic. At least, that is my hope after today. The Senate is scheduled to vote today on the amendment to “protect” marriage from gays. If you ask me, if they really want to protect marriage, how about an amendment that makes it illegal to divorce. Or an amendment that states that if you have married and divorced, you can’t re-marry?

It’s funny in a way to see people all worked up about this. It’s ridiculous to think that with everything else going on, they are focusing on this. They look like total fools. This is what Lou Dobbs said about them this morning.

It’s clear that cynical, patronizing White House political strategists are trying to rally a conservative base that they believe is more base than conservative. They’re wrong on all counts.

We’re fighting a war against radical Islamist terrorists with ongoing campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, we’re drowning in debt from our growing record trade and budget deficits and we’re watching our public education system fail a generation of students. Congress has yet to act on an effective solution to our illegal immigration crisis as millions of illegal aliens flood our borders every year, and our nation’s borders and ports are still woefully insecure, four and a half years after the September 11 attacks. [...]

The president and the Senate are focusing on one of the few reasons that has not been proven to cause divorce. They instead should look to financial hardships, and the lack of communication about family finances. The median family income is stagnating while gasoline costs and higher interest rates are eating up the family budget. (source)

This too shall pass. Personally, it has brought me down somewhat. But hell, I’ll get over it. The frustrating thing for me is that if they would just stop to learn about the people they are so dedicated to damning, they may just find out that we are of no threat at all. We are just everyday people, like they are. Except, we, unlike them, really are concerned about all the other problems facing our country.

On the other hand, perhaps it’s a good sign that they are concentrating so heavily on this issue because it just shows how disparate and scared they are. I also think it’s funny to observe the President in all of this. On Monday, he came out in favor of passing a constitutional amendment. After that, nothing, nada, not one word. The very next day, it was back to “securing our borders” yada yada yada...

At least, most people seem to see this for what it is, pure politics. One more thing caught my eye.

Senate Democrats, all of whom except Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska oppose the amendment, say the debate is a divisive political ploy.

“The Republican leadership is asking us to spend time writing bigotry into the Constitution,” said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, whose state legalized gay marriage in 2003. “A vote for it is a vote against civil unions, against domestic partnership, against all other efforts for states to treat gays and lesbians fairly under the law.”

Hatch responded: “Does he really want to suggest that over half of the United States Senate is a crew of bigots?” (source)

In response to Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), I’d like to answer his question. Yes Senator Hatch, I really do believe that over half of the United States Senate is a crew of bigots, including you. I’m tired of hearing rhetoric about, “I have nothing against gay people...” bullshit. That’s pure crap, sir, and you know it.

Deeds speak louder than words, and your deeds have shown the level of bigotry you and your Senate buddies have for this segment of society. But that’s fine. History will be your judge, just like it judged countless people who were against letting blacks into the military, allowing interracial marriage, and those who fought against the end of segregation.

History is much less tolerant than I am.

FINALLY.....

This just in... The amendment failed to pass the U.S. Senate on a vote this morning.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A constitutional ban on same-sex marriage failed to pass the U.S. Senate on Wednesday but Republican leaders planned to take it up in the House, keeping a national spotlight on the divisive issue.

The 49 to 48 vote fell short of the 60 votes needed to end debate, thwarting President George W. Bush and the mostly Republican senators who argued that the Constitution must be amended to prevent judges from striking down existing state-level bans on gay marriage. (source)

Now can we move on?