Posted by AuntieMel on December 15, 2004, at 11:50:16
In reply to Re: Pandora's Box, posted by MKB on December 15, 2004, at 10:22:48
Yes, this is true. Legally, if you have the foresight (how many people don't even have a will!) you can create many safeguards.
The jury is still out, though, on how well they stand up. Sure, you might eventually win in court, but if the hospital won't let you see your partner, much less let you make crucial medical decisions, does it really make a difference?
And there have been multiple stories of judges refusing to consider a mother for custody of a child in a (heterosexual) divorce if the mother has just come out.
However, you are correct that, with good lawyers, a degree of civil protection can be had.
There are still a few that the best lawyers can't fix, the court testimony issue being one.
But we all know that, to most people, marriage is a powerful symbol of commitment. It just doesn't seem fair to me that it is only abailable to heterosexuals.
poster:AuntieMel
thread:427221
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20041129/msgs/429898.html