In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill that allows registered domestic partners to file joint tax returns and have their earned income treated as community property for state tax purposes. There is now virtually no distinction between the rights of married couples and those of domestic partners under state law.
DPs, however, are denied the federal spousal benefits, and must file separate federal tax returns. The same also is true of same-sex couples legally married in Massachusetts, thanks to the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
Last year, Schwarenegger vetoed a bill that would have provided for same-sex marriage outright in the Golden State, citing the defeat of same-sex marriage when the electorate voted on this issue. But if the domestic-partner route becomes virtually the same as marriage (at least at the state level), then the cultural shift that deflates popular opposition to the "m" word is well underway.
2 Comments for “What’s in a Name?”
posted by Alex on
As someone from Mass I think we should fight for the word. After marraige was allowed everything changed. Schools, government, companies treated gays much differently after it was a now they are really equal mentality. While in other places it is not the same at least in my experience.
But on the flip side of the coin I don’t like how some have turned it into the only fight. What about the 16 year old who pleas for help while teachers ignore homophobic bullying? What about the 25 year old who loses her job for being lesbian or trans? Or the senior citizen mistreated in a nursing home? Marraige and other couples rights are important but to often gays make it the end all be all of the movement. Try and get the smaller things done before you go for the big prize. Thats my to cents.
posted by Northeast Libertarian on
You’re assuming that the entire gay community views employment “non-discrimination” laws as a “right.”
For every gay leftist slamming gay families as bourgeois and shouting that “gay marriage doesn’t matter, let’s pass ENDA,” there’s a gay professional who is smart enough to work for a company which doesn’t discriminate, who recognizes that “non-discrimination” laws are largely useless symbolism, and whose primary priority is taking care of his family rather than satisfying the checklist of the trial-lawyer lobby salivating to create entirely new practices focused on absurdly-construed “sexual orientation law.”