Gay couple's split revives contentious debate on marriage

[question everything]

By Tracey Kaplan
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWS SERVICE

July 12, 2004

SAN JOSE – They've lasted considerably longer than the 55 hours pop diva Britney Spears managed to stay married, but a same-sex couple who tied the knot in San Francisco three months ago already are seeking to dissolve their union. The couple's breakup after more than 10 years together puts the spotlight for the first time on the flip side of same-sex marriage: divorce.

(snip)

Opponents of gay marriage last week seized on the breakup as a sign that same-sex marriage was doomed, while gay rights activists pointed out that about half of all heterosexual marriages also eventually fail. The breakup also highlights a tricky legal situation that all 3,955 same-sex couples who got married in San Francisco will face in the event they decide to sever ties or one person dies.

Hertz said the couple in question, whom he declined to identify for privacy reasons, own property together and aren't sure how to divide their assets. For married couples, the law is clear. But the rules and guidelines are far more vague and complex for nonmarried partners.

(snip)

The breakup also has political repercussions because it's the first to surface since the gay rights movement took pains to celebrate the stability and social value of same-sex relationships during San Francisco's 29-day marriage spree.

(snip)

In Vermont, the only state in the nation that allows same-sex civil unions, less than 1 percent (38 couples out of 6,945) have dissolved the bond in the past four years. However, many of the unions involve out-of-state couples who would have to move to the state for up to a year in order to dissolve their unions.


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Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040712/news_1n12gaydiv.html

[donco6]

1. Like straights don't get divorced? Puhleeze.

Why would anyone even think this is news? Of COURSE there will be divorces. All it proves is that gays and straights are more alike than people know.

on edit: not disparaging your post - just knight ridder for posting it on the wire.

[question everything]

3. Did not take it as such, but it will be a fodder for RWers

and we'd better be ready.

And... there may be serious questions like the one raised in the story about dividing the property, or when there are kids, etc.

Which may mean that just issuing a wedding certificate may not be enough.

[NC_Nurse]

2. I suppose celebs shouldn't be allowed to marry then

a lot of them don't make it through the first 3 months!

[madaboutharry]

4. This is just another example of bigotry

"You see, those gays are so unstable, they can't stay married...bla, bla, bla..." It is no different than statements like "You see, those Blacks.... bla, bla, bla" or "Those Jews, they are all...bla, bla, bla" or "Those (fill in the blank) are all so....." I'll never get it, I really won't. The need for scapegoats in a society is truly overwhelming. We have learned nothing from history.

[jacksonian]

7. the reason is

that prejudices are never about the supposed lackings of the target group. Social prejudice is always caused by infighting and posturing within the oppressing group. Whites hate blacks to gain status among whites, men oppress women to gain prestige among men, and (in an obvious case in this election cycle) Christians who hate gays do so to gain power over more tolerant Christians.

All that other stuff about the bad qualities come later, tacked on as a justification for being nasty. Individual people may latch onto these "lackings" to fuel their anger and bond with other like-minded types, but as a social force any prejudice that does not lead to empowerment dies.

[buczak]

5. gay divorcings?

Oh my god, gay folks divorcing...

gee, I wonder what precedance they need to look at for spliting properties, inheritance, etc...

gee, i wonder if they need to create new laws.

gee, i wonder if they have to be granted 'special rights'

..

oh wait, there is already laws and rights in place that govern heterosexual marriages, i wonder if they can just apply those to this case.

wow, that was easy,

next.

[Karenina]

6. Actually this brings up an

interesting phenomenon. I wonder what the rate of divorce for long term cohabitants who decide to "formalize" their relationships. I've seen it happen dozens of times to people who have been together "forever." What is it about that little pice of paper?