3 Weeks versus 4 Years

[CGP]

Khloe Kardashian and her new boyfriend (http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2009/09/khloe-kardashian-wed-her-lakers-boyfriend-lamar-odom-sunday), whom she met 3 weeks ago (August 27), will be getting married this week. Along with that will came all of the state & federal benefits that straight married couples are granted.

My partner and I met around the same date (late August) 4 years ago (years, not weeks). We cannot get married in the state of NY, and even if we could our relationship would mean NOTHING in the eyes of federal law. Nothing. Doesn't count. Doesn't exist.

And some people wonder why I get angry about such matters. :rolleyes: Wouldn't be the INJUSTICE that makes me angry, would it?

So much for the "sanctity" of marriage - so many who want to get married, cannot, and so many who are allowed to get married make a complete mockery of the institution. I've had it.

[mavfin]

So much for the "sanctity" of marriage - so many who want to get married, cannot, and so many who are allowed to get married make a complete mockery of the institution. I've had it.

Preaching to the choir here. I see a lot of couples every day that should never have moved in together, let alone get married. But, they get all the protections by law that you can't get, even though they'll just get divorced before too long.

Sad.

(Yes, I've been married 18 years. I'm not part of the divorce statistics, for anyone curious who's reading this.)

[Ikasu]

I know CGP. But one day it will happen.

BTW: I didn't know Lamar Odom was with her. Only 3 weeks? LOL

[WASTRIC]

The time has come and past time for correcting this. You should be allowed to make the choice to get married or continue to "live in sin" CGP !!:) (personally I prefer the later one after failing at the first) You could do no worse than most that have tried married life. Let's get this changed, then have a big bash for your wedding. ;)

[CGP]

BTW: I didn't know Lamar Odom was with her. Only 3 weeks? LOL

Yeah, and for how much longer?! Maybe I shouldn't be so cynical but 3 weeks? Seriously? Cmon, how long before they are getting divorced? But they have the right to fail or succeed - they at least have the choice.

[Nichelle]

Yeah, and for how much longer?! Maybe I shouldn't be so cynical but 3 weeks? Seriously? Cmon, how long before they are getting divorced? But they have the right to fail or succeed - they at least have the choice.

I can DEFINITELY see why this frustrates you. A very good friend of mine has been with his partner for 18 years. The fact that they can't marry and receive the same benefits as anyone else is ridiculous.

[Suzan]

The time has come and past time for correcting this. You should be allowed to make the choice to get married or continue to "live in sin" CGP !!:) (personally I prefer the later one after failing at the first) You could do no worse than most that have tried married life. Let's get this changed, then have a big bash for your wedding. ;)


genericstamp!

[CGP]

Let's get this changed, then have a big bash for your wedding. ;)

One day, hopefully!

[CGP]

I can DEFINITELY see why this frustrates you. A very good friend of mine has been with his partner for 18 years. The fact that they can't marry and receive the same benefits as anyone else is ridiculous.

18 years! And given the barriers/obstacles faced by gay couples in being able to stay together, 18 years is the equivalent of about 50 years in the straight world!

[Kbentleyis]

CGP, as I've said many times, it's going to take "we the people" to get the laws changed. These religious fanatics can't and shouldn't have the strength to keep equal rights for only their view point. Yes, I believe this keeps change at bay.

Time for people to hit the streets and DC and demand change now!

Don't worry, one day this country will have to accept GLBT rights, regardless.

[jlynne]

Wouldn't it be nice if the government got out of the marriage business altogether? Wouldn't it be nice if a person could choose to extend benefits to any or all members of his or her household without regard to their relationship?

Domestic partners could get benefits. Cohabitating couples could get benefits. And nobody would ever be asked about the parentage of the child or children they wish to cover. One can dream!

[CGP]

Time for people to hit the streets and DC and demand change now!


That is indeed the plan for October 10-11, 2009, in DC!

http://www.equalityacrossamerica.org/

[CGP]

Khloe Kardashian and her new boyfriend (http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2009/09/khloe-kardashian-wed-her-lakers-boyfriend-lamar-odom-sunday), whom she met 3 weeks ago (August 27), will be getting married this week. Along with that will came all of the state & federal benefits that straight married couples are granted.

My partner and I met around the same date (late August) 4 years ago (years, not weeks). We cannot get married in the state of NY, and even if we could our relationship would mean NOTHING in the eyes of federal law. Nothing. Doesn't count. Doesn't exist.

And some people wonder why I get angry about such matters. :rolleyes: Wouldn't be the INJUSTICE that makes me angry, would it?

So much for the "sanctity" of marriage - so many who want to get married, cannot, and so many who are allowed to get married make a complete mockery of the institution. I've had it.

No injustice there. None.

No oppression there. None.

It's a very tiring and draining battle that often, very often, just leaves me shaking my head in utter disbelief & complete frustration...

[Spang]

Census: 150,000 gay couples report they're married

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 150,000 same-sex couples reported being in marriage relationships last year, many more than the number of actual weddings and civil unions, according to the first U.S. census figures released on same-sex marriages.

About 27 percent of the estimated 564,743 total gay couples in the United States said they were in a relationship akin to "husband" and "wife," according to the Census Bureau tally provided to The Associated Press. That's compared with 91 percent of the 61.3 million total opposite-sex couples who reported being married.

A consultant to the Census Bureau estimated there were roughly 100,000 official same-sex weddings, civil unions and domestic partnerships in 2008.

Analysts said the disparities are probably a reflection of same-sex couples in committed relationships who would get married if they could in their states. The numbers are also an indicator of the count to come in the 2010 census, a tally that could stir a state-by-state fight over same-sex marriage, gay adoption and other legal rights.

Nationwide, about 56 percent of the 149,956 total same-sex marriages in the census survey last year were lesbian couples. Same-sex spouses were reported in every state; specific breakdowns weren't immediately available.

"Even though in 2008 there were only a few states where you could get legally married, a large portion of same-sex couples either were married or chose to use that term," said Gary Gates, a demographer at UCLA who is advising the Census Bureau.

Gates reviewed the number of marriage licenses issued and other factors to estimate the number of same-sex couples in legal relationships. During 2008, same-sex marriage was legal in California, Massachusetts, Iowa and Connecticut, while a handful of other states recognized civil unions and domestic partnerships. U.S. same-sex couples also can marry in Canada and other foreign countries.

Curtis Chin, 41, and Jeff Kim, 43, of Los Angeles, are among those who plan to report to the census that they are spouses. The two were planning a big wedding for 2009 but rushed into a private legal ceremony last fall when it became clear that California voters would soon ban same-sex marriages. Chin says he and Kim won't feel like they are really married until they do a follow-up ceremony in front of family and friends but believe it's important to get a full count.

"Gay couples are getting married or in committed relationships, and we are out here," he said.

The numbers come as the Census Bureau prepares to make an official count of same-sex marriages, unions and partnerships for the first time in the 2010 head count, following the Obama administration's decision to provide the numbers under pressure from gay-rights groups.

The figures provided to the AP also included higher, previously unreleased numbers for the three previous years.

In 2007, 341,000 out of 753,618 total same-sex couples reported being in a marriage relationship, even though only about 11,000 marriage licenses had been issued in the country. The numbers were even higher for 2005 and 2006; about 390,000 each year reported being in a same-sex marriage out of nearly 780,000 reported gay couples.

Martin O'Connell, the Census Bureau's chief of the fertility and family statistics branch, attributed the higher numbers in previous years to a confusing survey layout and formatting errors. He said those problems were corrected for 2008.

The Source (http://www.13wham.com/news/national/story/Census-150-000-gay-couples-report-theyre-married/Vk5xLZaILEWuxdUVSHuh8A.cspx)

[CGP]

The Woman Lamar Odom Didn't Marry (http://www.tmz.com/2009/09/25/the-woman-lamar-odom-didnt-marry/)


This is the woman Lamar Odom dated for 10 years -- the mother of his children -- Liza Morales. Do you think she's happy about his wedding to Khloe Kardashian ... who he's been dating for a month?