Gay people are not interested in changing the religious definition of marriage. There are many ministries that already provide a religious marriage ceremony for gay people.
Gay people are committed to expanding the protection of the civil definition of marriage to include same-sex couples so that gay couples can enjoy the same benefits, rights, and privileges that flow from marriage.
There was an article in the 12/19/96 Boston Globe outlining the various spousal rights that many of us heterosexual married people take for granted. Basic Benefits, as highlighted in the _Boston_Globe_ on page B4 of the 12/19/96 edition:
1. Shared Taxes. Married couples get to average their salaries to reach a lower bracket which benefits married couples with one high-wage worker and one low-wage worker (typical of a family where perhaps the mother works "mom's hours" to supplement the budget while the kids are
young.) Hence Gay couples in a comparable situation are taxed at a higher rate.
2. Next-of-kin privileges. If one partner gets sick or dies, the other can be shut out of the process by the family, particularly if it is an "enlightened" one wrt to homosexuality that has perhaps disowned the child until the catastrophic illness has occured. At times, these folks can even be precluded from attending the funeral. Marriage would,place the control of these gut wrenching situations into the control of,the spouse and not the family. Think of it another way, what if your
husband's family despised you and were able to keep you out of his intensive care room or, god forbid, keep you from his funeral. Gays, take enough heat in society, I think their grieving for loved ones is one area where even the most homophobic of homophobes ought to be able
to cut them a little slack.
3. Bereavement leave: many employers only grant leave to workers who lose close relatives. Significant Others (SOs) are not factored into the equation, so to speak.
4. Wrongful death benefits. Gay spouses could sue for loss of consortium if their partner were killed by a reckless act.
5. Pensions and health insurance. Few employers grant benefits to unmarried partners (SOs). Even if granted, the government taxes it. Spousal benefits are tax free, on the other hand.
6. Immigration. In marrying an American, aliens automatically gain citizenship. Gay couples cannot do that, and then have to split up when the visa expires.
7. Social Security. Spouses, not partners, receive survivor benefits.
8. Inheritance: Gay partners pay estate taxes, married couples are exempt.
9. Child custody: Sanctioning marriage would greatly facilitate theprocess.
10. Family discounts: many organizations offer reduced rate family memberships. In most cases gay couples don't qualify and therefore have to pay the higher rate.
Other little fun facts in the article include:
11. Car ownership automatically transfers to a spouse, but not to a surviving partner.
12. Widows/Widowers have standing to challenge their late spouse's will.
13. Spouses cannot be compelled to testify in court against one another.
Here's another list of rights and privileges denied to gay couples:
Accidental death benefits for the surviving spouse of a government employee
Appointment as guardian of a minor
Award of child custody in divorce proceedings
Beneficial owner status of corporate securities
Bill of Rights benefits for victims and witnesses
Burial of service member's dependents
Certificates of occupation
Consent to post-mortem examinations
Continuation of rights under existing homestead leases
Control, division, acquisition and disposition of community property
Criminal injuries compensation
Death benefits for surviving spouse for government employee
Disclosure of vital statistics records
Division of property after dissolution of marriage
Eligibility for housing opportunity allowance program of the Housing,
Finance and Development Corporation
Exemption from claims of Department of Human Services for social
services payments, financial assistance or burial payments.
Exemption from conveyance tax
Exemption from regulation of condominium sales to owner occupants
Funeral leave for government employees
Homes of totally disabled veterans exempt from property taxes
Income tax deductions, credits, rates exemption and estimates
Inheritance of land patents
Insurance licenses, coverage, eligibility and benefits organization of
mutual benefits society
Legal status with partner's children
Making, revoking and objecting to anatomical gifts
Making partner medical decisions
Nonresident tuition deferential waiver
Notice of guardian ad litem proceedings
Notice of probate proceedings
Payment of wages to a relative of deceased employee
Payment of workers' compensation benefits after death
Permission to make arrangements for burial or cremation
Proof of business partnership
Public assistance from the Department of Human Services qualifications
at a facility for the elderly
Real property exemption from attachment or execution
Right of survivorship to custodial trust
Right to be notified of parole or escape of inmate
Right to change names
Right to enter into premarital agreement
Right to file action for nonsupport
Right to inherit property
Right to purchase leases and cash freehold agreements concerning the
management and disposition of public land
Right to sue for tort and death by wrong ful act
Right to support after divorce
Right to support from spouse
Rights and proceedings for involuntary hospitalization and treatment
Rights by way of dour or courtesy
Rights to notice, protection, benefits and inheritance under the
uniform probate code
Social security benefits on the death of spouse
Sole interest in property
Spousal privilege and confidential marriage communications
Spousal immigration benefits
Status of children
Support payments in divorce action
Tax relief for natural disaster losses
Vacation allowance on termination of public employment by death
Veterans' preference to spouse in public employment
In vitro fertilization coverage
Waiver of fees for certified copies and searches of vital statistics
Copyright December 22, 2000, by Kisa. All rights reserved, except that free distribution via any medium is permitted as long as author's credit is given and no profit is involved.
