Are there ANY states where gays can marry...?

[bliss_eternal]

...or at the very least have a legal civil union? Or has this admin. diminished it everywhere?

[dsc]

1. Massachusetts

[bliss_eternal]

12. Let's hope they keep this intact--

:)

[terrya]

2. You can get married in Massachusetts (for now)

And civil unions are available in Vermont and Connecticut.

[ISUGRADIA]

3. Mass Marriage VT & CT Civil Unions

[LeftCoast]

4. I believe CA has some form of Civil Unions as well

:hi:

[bliss_eternal]

8. Hi LeftCoast--

Gov. musclehead has continued to hedge on the issue hasn't he? Despite the fact that he said he was FOR it prior to getting in office. He sucks.

:hi:

[LeftCoast]

22. He also vetoed legislation which would have allowed Gay Marriage

California's legislature was the first in the country to actually pass fair marriage legislation. I thought it was particularly interesting because the Repub's favorite refrain is "activist courts shouldn't decide the matter" and yet, when the legislature voted for it they were still opposed. Kinda puts truth to the lie. :hi:

[bliss_eternal]

27. Absolutely--

activist judges indeed.

He's such a hypocrite. Which isn't to say that I believed a word he said prior to getting in office, as I didn't and knew people that were voting for him were in for a rude awakening.

I just hope when we kick his butt to the curb later this year, we get someone that WILL support marriage legislation. Someone has to lead the country with this issue, why not California?

:)

[cali]

5. How can you not know this?

Same sex marriage is legal in MA. VT has had CUs since 1999. CT has CUs. A few other states do as well.

[bliss_eternal]

7. Um,...

because there was an election recently (in some areas), where I know it was up for review in a few states, like Texas where it was made illegal. I also know it changes frequently which states are wavering about the issue.

Is there a reason my asking for an update on this should be met with such a condescending and flippant response by you?

[cali]

15. I humbly apologize

I was just surprised and blurted out the first thing that came to mind. I didn't mean to condescend.

[donco6]

23. Truce, cali.

But did you notice that the states you mentioned are about 1500 miles away from me in either direction. I think people get into this mindset that east coast and west coast politics are forefront in the mind of all Americans, and for the most part I can assure you they are not. I'm out here in what's left of the wild west, and if I can get someone to say "gay" without wrinkling their face in disgust, I feel I've accomplished something.

[bliss_eternal]

28. I appreciate

the apology. Thank you.

Good point, donco. The coasts are in no way indicative of what's going on elsewhere. The wrinkling of the face in disgust is disturbing, to say the least. I have a tough time with the people that do the 'double take' when I'm with my husband. While it is quite rare to get it, it's still at times unsettling that anyone would be so upset by how others live their lives.

[donco6]

14. I'm gay and I didn't know for sure.

WTF?

[bliss_eternal]

16. Thank you donco--

I guess we should all be experts on EVERYTHING all the time on DU.

[donco6]

18. I just get so SICK of that!

Damn. There's no reason whatsoever to a) assume everyone is a freeper/troll/Republican and b) to assume you know everything about everything.

AAARGHGHG!

[bliss_eternal]

21. At least

I'm not the only one that does (gets sick of it). It takes just as much time to answer a post politely as it does to be nasty.

I sincerely wondered if enough states were honoring human rights over the shrub agenda, that gays could avoid traveling to canada (or other states) to have a service, ceremony, etc.

[donco6]

24. Here in Colorado there's a big fight shaping up.

We're having three initiatives. At least one is a ballot initiative, which means petitions and then a vote in Nov. They are three alternatives to banning gay marriage (gee how nice! At least we get to pick from three!) Of course, one is worse, one is worser and one is concentration camp city.

I don't think we're the only ones going through this. Let's say Canada is looking better all the time. I already have ski pants.

[bliss_eternal]

26. That sounds ghastly--

I'm so sorry it's so bad there. :hug:

I hear you on Canada. I honestly think about it a great deal. As a woman married interracially I feel that if they can do this to gays, they can do it to anyone. It makes me sick. I don't want to live in or support a country that denies basic freedoms to others, and condones it with religion.

[Warpy]

6. Vermont and Hawaii, that I know of

and I'm not sure about Massachusetts, it keeps going back and forth there.

The whole thing is silly. It's a legal contract. As such, it needs to be apllied to all who wish to enter into it and who can consent to it.

I can't understand why any sane person would want to marry, but since they apparently do, we might as well extend the misery to all.

[donco6]

9. Ha! My thinking, too.

Marriage is an anachronism, and why anyone would want to enter into one is beyond me.

But, if I could have some easy way to fix all the legal issues my partner and I have had to fix, I'd welcome that.

[davidinalameda]

29. I want the legal rights that come with that little piece of paper

of course, I need to find someone to marry first

our governments grant so many different privileges with a marriage license and it's impossible to get some of those any other way

[bliss_eternal]

10. LOL!

Quote:
I can't understand why any sane person would want to marry, but since they apparently do, we might as well extend the misery to all.

You're funny! Equal oppportunity misery for all, right? LOL!

[hfojvt]

11. on that matter

were there any states where gays could marry before 2000? I think some churches will do it, but that does not have legal status.

On a related matter, I recently heard that Kansas law says I can marry a 15 year old (I do not remember the exact age, but it was shockingly young) if I can get parental permission, and there are still some states where first cousins can marry.

[bliss_eternal]

13. Yet no one is challenging that

are they?

:mad:

[HockeyMom]

17. Domestic Partnerships in New Jersey

which includes straight Seniors over 62 also.

[bliss_eternal]

19. That sounds cool--

:)

[donco6]

20. What benefits does that include - do you know?

Is it really a legal thing, or just a formal recognition? I assume it must have some legal rights, for tax purposes (the seniors over 62 filing separately or jointly).

[HockeyMom]

25. All State Benefits, I believe

I read where many widowed Seniors are taking advantage of this. Something to do with Social Security? You tell me how that would work. I know my widowed mother-in-law told me she would never marry her "boyfriend" because she would lose all her dead husband's benefits. If this is a way around that, I am surprised Bush and company aren't screaming their brains out. Not to mention all the FUNDIES with "Burning in Hell" crap.

But then, they are probably too busy "crusading" against Gays, to bother with OLD PEOPLE right now.