5 posts tagged “marriage”
The McFreeds jump up and down and shout about...
The California Supreme Court made it official today, both heterosexual and homosexual couples can now marry in the state of California... and call it marriage! In a 4-3 ruling, the court defined that marriage is not about tradition it is about creating one's own private relationship with someone else and having the state recognize and protect that union without prejudice. There is a state constitutional amendment pending a vote in November 2008 if it gets the right amount of signatures that could change this ruling. However, in 30 days two people (resident or non-resident) will be able to get married in California as long as they show up in person with a valid ID and the proof of any previous marriage's divorce (if applicable).
This is my favorite part of the ruling... which is 121 page long:
"...our state now recognizes that an individual’s capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual’s sexual orientation, and, more generally, that an individual’s sexual orientation — like a person’s race or gender — does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights. We therefore conclude that in view of the substance and significance of the fundamental constitutional right to form a family relationship, the California Constitution properly must be interpreted to guarantee this basic civil right to all Californians, whether gay or heterosexual, and to same-sex couples as well as to opposite-sex couples."
The McFreeds congratulate...
President George W. Bush's daughter Jenna and her new husband Henry Hager on their marriage on Saturday May 10, 2008. May their early life together as newlyweds here in Baltimore, MD be happy and fruitful. We both hope our community will support their relationship with dignity and respect as they make a life, have children, and grow old together with us right next door. We hope our wedding next year as special, meaningful, and memorable as their's was! Who knows, maybe our future children will grow up together in the same schools and neighborhood!
Mazel Tov and Best Wishes
The McFreeds report...
In our state of Maryland, some things are looking up on the legal front for gay lesbian couples. It's not a done deal yet but it's getting there!
Senate approves expanded rights for unmarried couples
By Kristen Wyatt
The Associated Press
5:40 PM EDT, March 18, 2008
With gay marriage a no-go this year, Maryland senators voted today to allow unmarried couples more rights to make medical decisions for each other.
The Senate voted 30-17 to allow domestic partners, who could be gay or straight, to make medical or funeral decisions for each other if they meet certain criteria to show they are a committed couple.Unwed couples would have to show "mutual interdependence" such as joint checking accounts or common property ownership before qualifying as domestic partners eligible for the decision-making powers.
The bill comes amid complaints from unwed couples that they are sometimes denied life-or-death decision rights or medical privileges such as riding in an ambulance or visiting a partner on life support.
The measure now heads to the House. It could become the most substantive gay-rights matter lawmakers take up this year. This is the first general session of the legislature since Maryland's highest court said last year that the legislature is free to remove gender definitions in state marriage law, but top lawmakers have said gay unions won't be considered this term.
Supporters of the medical bill approved today argued that in lieu of gay marriage, lawmakers ought to at least allow medical decision-making powers for unmarried couples.
"We're not willing to do the right thing and open up marriage to everyone in Maryland," said Sen. Jamie Raskin, D-Montgomery, who supports gay marriage.
The bill sparked days of debate from senators who questioned how couples would designate each other their domestic partners. Some also questioned whether the bill would open the door to gay marriage later.
"In society today, we promote marriage. Marriage between one man and one woman," said Sen. Alex Mooney, R-Frederick, who opposed the measure. "You're giving spousal rights to unmarried people."
Another Republican, Sen. Janet Greenip of Anne Arundel County, worried the measure would demean marriage and give undue rights to what she called "highly unstable" relationships.
"This is not about you. This is not about me. This is about the children. What kind of future are we leaving for our children?" Greenip asked.
The only Republican to support the bill, Sen. Allan Kittleman, said he wanted to allow couples who can't marry for legal reasons the medical rights spouses have. He cited elderly couples and a widow who cannot marry her longtime partner because she'd lose benefits.
"I rise in support of this bill, and it's not an easy thing for me to do," said Kittleman, the Senate's second-ranking Republican. Later, Kittleman added, "This isn't simply about homosexuality."
After a short debate, the Senate approved the measure 30-17 today. Only four Democrats voted against it. The measure now heads to the House.
The legislature is also considering measures to exempt domestic partners from paying certain transfer taxes when one person dies, and a measure to add domestic partners to the list of people exempted from paying inheritance taxes.
Oddly, the bills have made allies in a way of gay-rights activists and gay-rights opponents. Gay-rights activists, citing a long debate over what-if scenarios made possible by the medical decisions bill, supported the medical bill but say lawmakers would be better to simply open marriage to gay couples.
"I think going down this road is going to illuminate legislators as to why marriage equality is the right answer," said Dan Furmansky, head of Equality Maryland, the state's largest gay-rights group.
And opponents of the medical bill said almost the same thing -- that the medical bill is a step toward gay marriage. It's an unusual alliance.
"It is kind of ironic how it's worked out," said the Rev. Rick Bowers, a Columbia pastor who is head of Defend Maryland Marriage, which opposes gay unions. "But it's because we all see it as a step in the same direction. It's an incremental step toward gay marriage."
Sean & Stefan announce...
Well it finally happened. After a year and half and two Christmases together, Sean up and proposed to Stefan Christmas Eve! In the middle of watching the Judy Garland sing to Margaret O'Brien "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" in Meet Me In Saint Louis (the designated Xmas Eve film), Sean handed Stefan the gift below. Stefan sleepy-eyed from the1AM hour slowly opened the blue wrapping paper with snow flakes on it, unwrapped the protective bubble wrap and uncovered the proposal Sean created with his own two hands...
Stefan looked at Sean stunned and blinked with a smile. Given the $150.00 Xmas budget we had this year (a house and adopted children just don't grow on trees anymore after all), Sean decided to give Stefan his heart forever instead of a shiny new trinket. "The answer is 'Yes'," Stefan said "but are you sure you mean ME?" We both laughed and then kissed. Stefan found out his own brother Andy was in on the "deception" the whole time! Stefan went on to be speechless for 45 minutes and then told Sean not to expect a ring in these red circular boxes under the tree. Sean went on to bed and crashed, his "evil" accomplished... Stefan stayed up another hour still stunned trying to figure out if it was a dream... it wasn't!
We started to spread the word to family and friends the next couple of days and the phrase that kept coming up was "What does that mean? Engaged?" We both laughed and found it extremely humorous and then looked at each other and said "What does that mean???" What DO two gay men do after they get engaged? So watch this blog for how we solve The Mystery of The Engaged McFreeds!
Many have asked why are we are doing this even though we live in a state without legal gay marriage or civil unions. All we know at this time (a favorite Stefan phrase) is that we are in love and can't see any better person to spend the rest of our lives with but each other. Sappy but true. The law can catch up to us, this is our story after all right? (wink)
Sean says...
Stef and I intently watched the historic debate last night where nearly all the Democratic candidates for President attended. All your majors were there: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Dennis Kucinich, and Mike Gravel. Christopher Dodd and Joe Biden did not attend. Each addressed questions separately by moderator Margaret Carlson, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Joe Solmonese, Washington Post editorial page writer Jonathan Capehart, and musician/activist Melissa Etheridge (waits for the double take on this choice... tick tick tick...check out link to editorial about her inclusion). Although not strong questions, it was GREAT to see candidates take on gay and lesbian issues directly. ALL the Republican candidates were invited but did not attend.
Stef and my initial take was the following in terms in who did the best to satisfy us:
1. Edwards
2. Clinton
3. Kucinich/Obama
The LARGEST disappointment was Bill Richardson. When asked by panelist (yes you read right) Melissa E. the question "Do you believe homosexuality to be a choice?" he answered the following way (courtesy YouTube) which was followed by the biggest GASP by gay people I think ever recorded on TV that wasn't a planned acting event:
Really disappointing! Bill Richardson had a lot of things going for him in my mind and this comment despite the explanation on his website just really deflated at least my balloon. This man is overqualified for the job with a resume that includes congressman (minority whip), Energy Secretary, UN Ambassador, and Governor of New Mexico. But his interviews and debate appearances have truly disappointed me in the last 2 months. The man is great at getting things done apparantly in the past but he can't verbalize why his vision is the best. Ted Kennedy had the same issue when he was deciding to challenge Jimmy Carter in 1980 - "Why I want to be president?" And now one of the big issues on my political checklist (and Stef's too) has a bad mark for him.
You be your own judge here on this and tell us what you think.
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