Facts About Gay Marriage
Different types of unions
Different states, in the U.S., are considering and adopting
different legal recognitions of gay couples in committed
relationships. None of these definitions gives gay couples all
of the over 1000 benefits the U.S. government grants to married
heterosexual couples.
The main definitions being considered are:
Civil Unions At this time only the state of
Virginia is recognizing civil unions for same sex couples. Their
law grants the same rights and recognitions to gay couples as
would normally be granted to married heterosexual couples. This
would allow the couple to enjoy normal spousal rights in regards
to hospital visitation, medical information and decisions,
inheritance, property ownership, various insurance and
government benefits, adoptions, tax laws, and more.
Domestic Partnership California, New Jersey,
District of Columbia, Hawaii, and Maine, allows domestic
partnership status to same sex couples. The laws vary from state
to state but most require that some simple rules be met such as
the partners must be over 18 and share a residence. The benefits
range from California's, which offers almost all of the benefits
of marriage, to Maine, where the benefits extend ONLY to health
insurance!
Same Sex Marriage Same sex marriage is legal in
the U.S. only in the state of Massachusetts. Same sex marriage
allows lesbian and gay couples the full legal benefits of
heterosexual marriage.
What are the legal reasons gay couples want to have fully
recognized marriages?
There are many. From receiving the same tax breaks as married
couples, to having the right to make decisions for their partner
in the event of catastrophic illness or death. Rights that
heterosexual people take completely for granted, such as being
able to add your spouse to your health insurance policy, or to
visit them in the hospital, as well as rights that most people
never use, such as being able to sue for wrongful death, or to
collect spousal benefits from Social Security or Workman's
Compensation. Rights to inheritance, adoptions, death benefits,
and shared property.
Regardless of whether you believe the homosexual lifestyle is
acceptable or not morally, the real question of gay marriage
boils down to whether same sex couples deserve the same legal
rights as heterosexual couples. This makes it less a moral
question than a legal one. Remove the emotion from the picture
and it is simple to see that any couple who has lived together,
depended on each other, shared income, property, the everyday
ups and downs of life together deserves these rights, regardless
of their sexuality or whether or not you like their lifestyle.
Gay Marriage Worldwide
Canada and Spain are considering laws legalizing same sex
marriage. Australia is attempting to follow the U.S.A.'s lead in
creating a nationwide ban on same sex marriage.
Same sex marriage is legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, and
Denmark. France, Britain, and Germany recognize civil unions.
Altogether about 10 member countries of the EU recognize some
sort of same sex marriage or civil union. In Portugal and parts
of Spain same sex couples who have lived together long enough
receive the same benefits as common law marriages of
heterosexual couples.