Many state benefits, and federal ones, too, are tied specifically to 'marriage'
By DEIRDRE FULTON | March 25, 2009
Many people think civil unions might be a workable compromise. But after nine years in Vermont, there's evidence that enough is wrong with them — and right with marriage — to convince that state's Senate to back a civil-marriage proposal by a margin of 26-4 on Monday night.
Part of what persuaded them was logistical. While civil unions provide state-level benefits (in Maine, there would be more than 300), they don't provide federal benefits (of which there are more than 1000, according to EqualityMaine's Betsy Smith). One example: Civil unions don't make partners eligible for each other's Social Security benefits if one of them dies.
Even more important to many activists is the social and semantic limitation of the term "civil union." That phrase simply has a different connotation than the word "marriage." Regardless of how it's spun, until they have access to the same word as straight couples do — having "weddings," saying they are "married" — same-sex couples operate within a separate sphere.
At this juncture, regardless of how Vermont's Democrat-dominated state House and Republican governor act on the bill, marriage approval in that state is mostly a symbolic change. Until Congress, which passed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, changes its stance on gay marriage, federal benefits will still be held hostage.
Still, the Vermont effort lays the groundwork for organizers in other states, and on a national level. As Don Eggert, the creative director of Vermont alt-weekly Seven Days, wrote in his publication a few weeks ago, "we don't want other states arguing for civil unions. We want them arguing for marriage, so they don't have to go through what we're going through right now and have this debate twice. Let them use us as an example and say, 'They wish they'd called it gay marriage from the beginning.'"
Related:
A gay day off, Gay marriage debate comes to Maine, The gays can not be stopped!, More
- A gay day off
A day without gays sounds like a Christian Right wet-dream come true, but it's actually the idea behind a 24-hour nationwide strike and economic boycott in support of gay marriage for all Americans.
- Gay marriage debate comes to Maine
Even as same-sex marriage supporters across the country reel from the Election Day approval of California's Proposition 8 — which changed that state's constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman — they are optimistic about bringing gay marriage to Maine, possibly in the upcoming legislative session.
- The gays can not be stopped!
The national LGBT equality group Join the Impact hopes to galvanize sympathizers across the country to demonstrate in their home towns on Saturday, January 10, in protest of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
- Legislature will take up gay marriage this session
Maine lawmakers are certain to debate gay marriage in 2009, with competing marriage-related bills slated to be filed with the Legislature this week.
- Same-sex marriage
From the podium at EqualityMaine's 25th anniversary dinner last Saturday night, former state senator Ethan Strimling posed a question to the 630 people in attendance: If gay marriage were allowed in Maine, how many of you would tie the knot?
- Equal rites?
New England has made a pretty good case, in recent years, for America's capital of queer.
- Courthouse marriage
While political analysts understandably regard elections and politicians as the key forces of social change, nongovernmental forces are the ones that most often actually influence and transform our culture.
- Advocates cite concern on bill for civil unions
In the aftermath of Valentine’s Day, leaders of Rhode Island’s same-sex marriage movement are concerned that new legislation could prevent the eventual granting of full marriage rights for gays and lesbians.
- California matters
For four years, and 10,000 same-sex nuptials, Massachusetts has had a monopoly on gay marriage in the United States.
- Death by handgun
A couple of weeks ago, David S. Bernstein wrote about the growing "state sovereignty" movement backed by anti-government conspiracy theorists and gun-rights extremists, and touted on the syndicated radio show and Web site of deranged agitator Alex Jones.
- Queer eye for the Hawkeyes
This past Monday, as Iowa prepared to officially issue marriage licenses to gay applicants, both law-enforcement and state gay groups prepared for vocal, even violent opposition in America's heartland.
- Less
Topics:
News Features
, Culture and Lifestyle, GLBT Issues, Special Interest Groups, More
, Culture and Lifestyle, GLBT Issues, Special Interest Groups, Law, Family Law, Relationships, Gay and Lesbian Relationships, Same-Sex Marriage, Betsy Smith, Less