I have some thoughts on a way to really equalize the marriage laws and allow the neo-conservatives, fundamentalists and religious zealots to get what they want. It seems that those who are against gay marriage are most protective of the WORD marriage. They want to (constitutionally) DEFINE the word marriage. I doubt they will ever back down, so we need to remove the power that word has.
Perhaps the government should recognize ONLY "civil unions" (or whatever they want to call them). In the eyes of the government, any person, who has signed the documents to legally bind him or herself to another, would be consider legally bound to that person until said document is legally revoked.
All pairs bound by this document receive the same legal rights and tax benefits. Doing this would allow us to refrain from constitutionally changing the definition of marriage because in the eyes of the government, there would be no such thing. Doing this would give the same rights to any legal paired couple, gay or straight.
Therefore the word "marriage" would mean nothing legally to anyone. People who want to be "married" simply find the person of their choice to perform a ceremony... in a church, in a backyard, on a beach, skydiving, etc. People can be as protective as they wish about the word "marriage" because it holds no legal meaning.
I want to keep god out of government and government out of the bedroom. I think perhaps this might solve both.
EDIT: I found this clip of Keith Olbermann with a special comment on the passing of Prop 8. It doesn't particularly futher my point, but I found it compelling.
EDIT: I can't have a Prop 8 post without including this hilarious web-movie I just found, starring (among others) Jack Black, Kathy Najimy, Alison Janney, Margaret Cho, Neil Patrick Harris, Rashida Jones, Maya Rudolph, Jenifer Lewis, Sarah Chalke, Andy Richter and John C. Reilley. It was staged Marc Shaiman (also at the piano) and directed by Adam Shankman. The two previously collaborated on the "Hairspray" movie musical. Enjoy!
See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die
2 comments:
I think this is a very good idea. The religious-minded could even make the argument that if "marriage" is a union created by God between a man and a woman, what right did the state have to start creating "legal marriages" outside of the Church anyway? So let them have their silly word if it's so precious to them. I'm sure colloquially everyone who formed a civil union would still refer to themselves as married anyway, so they wouldn't be losing anything.
We have a parallel system a bit like California's in England now. Straight people can get married, and gay people can form civil partnerships. I hate that term, it sounds like you're starting a business. It means you can form a union and have legal rights, which is good, but there's no particular reason why it has to be called something different other than to appease conservatives. I still say I'm married to everyone. Who wants to say they're 'civilly partnered'??
It is now nearly four years later... and so little has changed - except my mind. In the intervening times, I've come to realize that the word MARRIAGE *is* important as it is recognized all over the world as a connection between two people. [sigh]
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