Heights officials, colleges take 'sue me' stance on marriage law (Ohio)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.cleveland.com/ohio/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1101983460172470.xml

A state constitutional amendment that bans gay marriage, civil unions and other arrangements that "approximate" marriage takes effect today, but the ban won't have a noticeable impact - at least for now.

Most public colleges that offer domestic partner benefits - even to same-sex couples - will continue doing so.

And Cleveland Heights will proceed with its domestic partner registry.

University and city officials won't say so directly, but their message is clear: Sue us, and we'll take our chances in court.

[Malva Zebrina]

1. Good

because I am so sorry for the homosexuals in the this country that are going through this bombardment of their being by George Bush and the Christian right.

It is worse than being an atheist. This group is suffering beyond belief which no human being should have to endure.

[rodeodance]

2. Grand!! you can't put the geni back in the bottle as much as the

Repugs want to!!!!!

[skooooo]

3. Well said!

I've had the same thoughts lately...Universities and libraries are probably the staunchest liberal entities in our society. I hope they can stick to their guns.

[hippywife]

4. I say that all gay couples who wish to get married

go ahead and do it even though the marriages are not government sanctioned or recognized. Find a sympathetic minister and just do it. Get a good lawyer and make everything you share as airtight contractually as possible.

Hospital visitation and information, property rights...a HIPAA form allows you to name anyone you want to have access. Doctors and pharmacies even require the spouse in a hetero marriage to be listed before they will release info so everyone is excluded except who you give permission to have access. Assign your partner as your POA (power of attorney) and complete an Advanced Directive, both to only become active in the event of your incapacitation. Draw up an air-tight Last Will and Testament. Find legal ways to transfer your estate before it becomes necessary, all to only be activated upon your death or terminal disability.

Any of the legal beagles around here have anything else to add or comment on re: these suggestions?

I say, just fuck it! and get married if that is your desire. All of us who are married are already just in civil unions by the government's estimation anyway. The license is only the state sanction to unite for purely secular reasons. It is not a marriage ticket in and of itself. You are only married when you have stood before each other and your choice of official and exchanged your vows.

If they screw you one way, take 'em on the other way. You are married if you say you are married and have made that committment to each other. Stand before your friends and families and commit yourselves as married partners.

Remember:
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." ~ M. Gandhi

You've already been through the first of those three. It's time to stand proud and firm if this is to be won. You have many, many of us standing with you!

[politicat]

5. We were told to incorporate as an LLC and have our employers treat us as

contractors. 1099 employees.

Basically, handle taxes, etc though the LLC entirely, and take no wage from the LLC. File no personal income taxes, only corporate taxes because you're not taking a wage from the LLC. It's definitely something you want to talk to an accountant about.

Polyamorous groups apparently do it all the time, and in the end, it comes down to social security being the only thing you can't deal with. You lose the child deduction, but the corporate taxes are lower than personal income taxes, anyway, so... You also usually can't take health care from your employer if you're private sector and 1099ing. While I believe that taxes are the dues we pay for living in this society, I'm more than willing to withhold or minimize my "dues" in protest to this administration.

Pcat

[Fleshdancer]

6. Mmm, that would make for an interesting business....

setting up LLC's for homosexual married couples so they can get the rights they deserve. Obviously any lawyer could do it, but it would be interesting if a lawyer were to create an "equal rights" package with a special rate for the sole purpose of helping these people out.

[hippywife]

7. There's more than one way

to skin this cat. ;)

Doing it completely within the confines of the legal system just makes it that much more satisfying, IMO.