Need help on the gay marriage issue

[NJmaverick]

I am debating with some people the gay marriage issue. I remember reading some time back that there are well over a 100 advantages finacial and legal that married couples enjoy over civil union couples. Does anyone have a link to that list?

Thanks in advance.

Rich

[Streetdoc270]

1. from the GAO

http://www.gao.gov/archive/1997/og97016.pdf

and its over 1000

[BlueEyedSon]

2. HOLY CRAP.

Should all single people just get married for the hell of it to reap all these benefits?????

[foreigncorrespondent]

5. Even that one...

..is outdated. There are now over 1400, but I have heard even since the 1400 was mentioned a few years back, that there is a further one hundred or so more to add.

[NJmaverick]

7. Thank you for your help

The link helped me quite a bit.

[Nothing Without Hope]

3. OT but related, see this thread on status of gay marriage in MA

This thread has received virtually no attention, and it deserves more:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=221&topic_id=4601

(self-edited to remove "n/t" from subject line)

[iamjoy]

4. Lists, Boring...Talk About People

My company did a great exhibit for Gay Pride Month last year. They reached out to several GLBT & "Allied" associates and asked them to share their stories.

Many of them were really touching. One, was this man and before he came to our company he worked elsewhere. His partner of twenty something years died - and the man could not get bereavement time! If a homosexual's partner is ill, he/she cannot get time away from work to care for his/her mate.

You will never convince the ultra-religious who believe homosexuality is a sin and we need to "shame" people out of it or make it so inconvenient the homosexuals will decide it is just easier to be straight. But you may make ground with moderates, and sometimes, reach to their heart.

Don't call any attempt by our government to restrict homosexual marriage "defense" call it "restrict" as in the "Restriction of Marriage Act." After all, today homosexuals, tomorrow, what other unions will they decide are immoral?

[Streetdoc270]

6. I use word replacement therapy on my co-workers

Where I work we have an inter-racial couple who are well liked by everyone. Recently we hired an openly Gay man in a long-term relationship. People make remarks about that being 'wrong' or 'gross' and I just tell them "40 years ago you would have said the same about Joe and Sally" They tend to be quiet after that.