So... who is getting married?

[kingLouiethe1]

they went to Canada (or so I'm told) for the "legal" part and then had their ceremony in Nashville where they live. I'm still not sure how that works out legally, but since only 1 of their names is on their son's adoption papers, they wanted to make sure there would be no legal issues if something happened to 1 of them.

The problem is that legally it doesn't work out. Right now these women are married in Canada, but Tennessee doesn't recognize their union. I'm sure they have other legal safeguards in place to protect their son's future, which meant going to a lawyer, creating a stack of legal documents and paying for all of it.

All these things are taken care of for straight people with two little words "I do".

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My counselor told me that a person does not need to be a resident of CA to get married there. Of course it doesn't mean that your state will recognize the marriage, however if you're lucky enough to live in a state like NY that's different.

 

[SanFranciscan]

My partner and I won't get married in "California" because I am not interested in having our spirits broken if and when the right wing gets their way and wins a constitutional ammendment in this state. If an ammendment fails then we might consider it. Unfortunately we are just in the middle innings of a nine-inning game here.

I really think that you are going to get this this time. I am not a fan of the wedding industry so I was glad to just go to Reno and just put it to rest. Blow off the religious Right. They are petty and will soon be no concern of yours. A civil ceremony is what I got in 1985 and have been married ever since so you won't be needing their churches.

I was here when the same-sex marriage licenses were issued a couple of years ago in San Francisco. There was a line down the street and around the block with people who had come far to get them. I was off work that day and decided to show whatever support that I could. Some groups showed up with their scripture signs and whatnot and tried to take over the steps of City Hall and grab the media's attention. Some of the couples waiting started to get distressed that this could get out of hand and mess up their opportunity to marry.

I really felt that those arguing with these protesters had nothing to gain and too much to lose so I just starting saying "Oh, look, the entertainment committee is here!" I do not like to make fun of strangers, but these people were just too much. Within about a minute another woman joined me in heckling them and kept saying "Who invited Comedy Central?" until nervous laughter among those waiting became amused laughter until the hecklers gave up realizing that they were now the heckled.

There is a ballot initiative for the November election to make marriage only for a man and a woman in California. I got a prerecorded call asking if I wanted to sign the petition and what number to press if I did. I just hung up. My husband was asked at a BART train station to sign the same petition. He refused. Even local professional petitioners paid per signature have refused to circulate that particular petition so I wouldn't assume that its promoters are going to win in November if I were you.

Another thing is that money talks. What conservatives most like to conserve is their money. In a state that relies heavily upon tourism from San Francisco to the theme parks in southern California, those who think that they can't stand the thought of gay marriage will change their tune when they see the profits from legalized same-sex marriage start rolling in.

 

[hematite153]

The problem is that legally it doesn't work out. Right now these women are married in Canada, but Tennessee doesn't recognize their union. I'm sure they have other legal safeguards in place to protect their son's future, which meant going to a lawyer, creating a stack of legal documents and paying for all of it.

All these things are taken care of for straight people with two little words "I do".

Ah, but, it is slowly filtering down that there is a long-standing federal law that says if you were legally married in a foreign state according to the requirements of that foreign state then the US will recognize the marriage. The NY State Supreme court recently found that this statute is not affected by DOMA and therefore all same-sex couples married in Canada are legally married in NY state regardless of NYs laws.

I suspect that if people are willing to keep paying for these legal challenges other states will eventually reach the same decision with regards to which law trumps which. I wish you all luck!