Special Rights? - Page One
The hypocrisy of the right is made clear
by Deborah Levinson
Continued From> Page 1: Facts of the Matter
Fact: The only reason it could possibly be construed as a "special" right is because the state isn't recognizing the validity of gay and lesbian marriages. Recognize the marriages and most all these other issues will go away.
Yet, when the argument is made in support of the right to having gay and lesbian marriages (or "unions," if you prefer to pander), that such legislation is needed in order to provide these equalcivil rights, the response is generally, "But that's not what 'marriage' is, and regardless, you can (spend extra money and acquire specialized knowledge) use the legal process to create for yourself all those same benefits and obligations.
Or when an attempt is made to create something equal (but differently named) to marriage in order to impart those equal rights, the response is that the government is sanctioning something that is immoral.
Let's even assume for a moment that the state of being gay or lesbian is immoral. So what? The government isn't in the business of legislating morality, nor is it properly in the business of accepting one religion's form of morality over the form of another.
Fact: Diane Whipple died January 26, 2001, after two hours of surgery. The police reported that two English mastiff dogs bolted out of a neighbor's apartment as the Whipple was returning home. One of the 120-pound dogs latched onto Whipple's throat as the other dog equally large dog tore her clothes with its teeth.
Fact: Whipple's surviving "partner" will have to fight an uphill battle, including a challenge to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60, which details who is eligible to a wrongful death suit. The statute only allows spouses, child (and grandchildren, and so on down the line) and immediate family members to sue.
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund lawyer Jon Davidson had this to say, "This case could draw a lot of attention to the kinds of problems lesbians and gays face because we can't get married. It wouldn't be an issue if these two women had been married; is it right that the surviving woman should be treated differently than if she were a man
married to a woman who was killed by a dog?"
Yet the circular reasoning of the right continues...
Special rights?
Clearly not.
Equal rights.
In pride, First page > Facts of the Matter > Page 1, 2
MORE
• Short Whipple Bio
• The Marriage Question
FROM THE FORUM
"Seen as creating a special right of inheritance for gay couples. Simultaneously seen as creating gay marriage rights. Is it just me, or are those two protests contradictory? They won't let us have the same marriage rights, because that would be bad. And they won't let us have rights outside of marriage, because that would be special." ---SARRELLEC
Deborah
Contribute to G/L Issues
to help with our expenses
