[UUPoly-L] LGBT rights

["David Hall" <airsafe1@comcast.net>]

I is my understanding that state laws govern marriage, the Feds can only
make it harder for the states to do what they want to do. Federal benefits,
over 1400 of them, depend on the states to define marriage. I am curious if
currently married lesbian and gay couples are finding it possible to obtain
them.

Dave 

-----Original Message-----
From: uupoly-l-bounces+airsafe1=comcast.net@uupa.org
[mailto:uupoly-l-bounces+airsafe1=comcast.net@uupa.org] On Behalf Of Desmond
Ravenstone
Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 3:49 PM
To: uupoly-l@uupa.org
Subject: Re: [UUPoly-L] the VP debate last night

--- On Fri, 10/3/08, Wishful Thinking <third_edition@live.com> wrote:

>> I find the view (not new with me, btw) that a national registry of
committed relationships, contracted relationships, covenanted relationships,
marriages ... whatever you want to call them ... in which people would
register each relationship and the rights specifically shared in the
relationship appealing. 

On the one hand, I can see some benefits if you are simply recording the
existence of such relationships.  On the other hand, I can see the potential
for such a list being abused, esp when you include "unconventional"
relationship arrangements.

My own view falls a bit short of the hard-boiled libertarian view that
government should get out of marriages and domestic partnerships altogether.
I do see a value in government institutions at least acknowledging the
existence of formal committed relationships, not to mention how unrealistic
it would be to move to such a model from the current state of affairs.  I
prefer moving towards having committed relationships based on
privately-agreed contracts rather than state-issued licenses, whether you
call them marriages or any other name.  Let the members of each such
relationship determine the rights, responsibilities, members and duration as
they see fit, and keep government's role to simply acknowledging just as
deeds and wills are registered, stepping in as an arbiter only when called
for by parties directly affected.

Back to the VP and Presidential debates ... It's clear that Obama and Biden
are willing to do what McCain and Palin are not -- going beyond merely
appealing for the votes of LGBT folks and allies, and actually listening to
us.  Even when they fall short, they still come out much more ahead than the
GOP ticket.

Desmond Ravenstone

********************

http://www.myspace.com/desmond_ravenstone





      
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