Slog

News & Arts

The Stranger Suggests

Critics' Best Bets
Music Arts & Food


Line Out

Music & the City
at Night

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Gay Marriage in D.C.

Posted by on Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 8:28 AM

This is pretty much the sweetest thing ever:

"This comes 6 years to the day after Multnomah County in Portland, Oregon started issuing licenses," writes Slog tipper Jason from Portland, "so my husband and I are celebrating our anniversary by watching other couples be as happy as we are."

 

Comments (24) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
Yes, and maybe one century soon they'll have the right to vote, too!
Posted by Who cares as long as we get to rule over DC, though? on March 3, 2010 at 8:32 AM
Anne in MA 2
To be fair, this has in effect legalized same sex marriage in Maryland as well. With Maryland immediately recognizing any out-of-state same-sex marriages, and DC being just a metro ride away from a large chunk of the state, this is good news.

Let me also point out how many federal employees live in suburban Maryland. This might well lead to an increase in pressure on the federal government to repeal DOMA. But let's not get too optimistic yet.
Posted by Anne in MA on March 3, 2010 at 8:50 AM
slaggy 3
Congrats!!
Posted by slaggy http://www.videowatchdog.com on March 3, 2010 at 8:52 AM
singing cynic 4
oh dammit, crying first thing in the morning.
Posted by singing cynic on March 3, 2010 at 9:20 AM
Canadian Nurse 5
Lovely. Reminds me of the summer of 2005. Slowly, slowly, the arc of history really is bending towards justice.
Posted by Canadian Nurse on March 3, 2010 at 9:36 AM
Will in Seattle 6
No federal benefits for same-sex married couples in DC.

No benefits for any married couples in Catholic Charities in DC.

Le sigh.
Posted by Will in Seattle http://www.facebook.com/WillSeattle on March 3, 2010 at 10:10 AM
Loveschild 7
I have nothing against them, but the notion that they didn't had the ability to be in a committed and responsible union before is just not true. Under the extensive domestic partnership law in D.C they had the same rights as those in traditional marriage or their family members when it comes to hospital decisions concerning the treatment of one of them or what might have you, including decisions of estate after a partner’s death or property, they were able to enjoy job benefits (including health care insurance) and even more benefits than whats really needed.
Posted by Loveschild http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/responding_to_haiti_earthquake/ on March 3, 2010 at 10:43 AM
8
"6 years to the day ...."
Posted by O.M.F.G! on March 3, 2010 at 10:58 AM
9
Loveschild, I'm with you. The fact that these two beautiful ladies would like to sanctify their relationship in marriage is so outrageous that I don't know if my own marriage will survive. And can you imagine these wonderfully pleasant people being around your children? Let the recruitment begin! I know that despite my insatiable thirst for females in general as a teenager due to the hormones surging through my system, if I had been subject to all this gay propaganda I wouldn't have been able to resist switching teams.

Separate but equal I say! How dare all these homos expect to be treated like normal humans.
Posted by fbc on March 3, 2010 at 11:01 AM
jasonzenobia 10
@7 I am Jason from Portland and I want to give you a tiny example about how Domestic Partnership is "equal" to marriage. I am a pastry chef and when my bakery finally offered Health Ins., I was thrilled because DP's were supposed to be covered too. However, when I signed up, I learned that I could only get coverage for my "partner" if our business had 15 or more employees. Married heterosexual couple are covered no matter how many employees you have. Not to mention the more than 1,000 federal rights that DP has no access too.
So I went back to making wedding cakes for straight people after one more in a long line of institutional slaps in the face to me and my family.
DP is nothing at all like marriage. I've been drinking at the "queers only" fountain too long to listen to that bullshit.
Separate is not equal and your attempt to rationalize your prejudice is pathetic.
Shame on you again.
Posted by jasonzenobia http://jasonzenobia.blogspot.com/ on March 3, 2010 at 11:24 AM
very bad homo 11
@7 - You are losing this fight. And the rest of civilized society is tired of your bigotry.
Posted by very bad homo on March 3, 2010 at 11:29 AM
Loveschild 12
@10 Wouldn't it be more productive for you and your partner and less divisive to seek to have whatever discrepancies there might be in the coverage corrected ? You'd be surprised how many would support you on this instead. Wanting to preserve a fundamental institution is no cause for shame.
Posted by Loveschild http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/responding_to_haiti_earthquake/ on March 3, 2010 at 12:07 PM
13
couldn't wipe the smile off my face while watching that.
Posted by LikeItIs on March 3, 2010 at 12:21 PM
14
@12, you are a funny person. Are you really suggesting that we should change "whatever discrepancies there might be" for all 1,000 federal benefits denied AND tackle each different insurance company one at a time? Seems inefficient. Also, the standard gay couple spends $20,000 on lawyers just trying to guarantee the same rights of inheritance etc. that straight married couples get automatically, for free. Or maybe straight people get "more benefits than what's really needed," is that what you're saying? To be less divisive, maybe you should start a campaign to repeal unneeded benefits for straight married couples.
Posted by Sakitume! on March 3, 2010 at 12:28 PM
kim in portland 15
Yeah, for tears of joy! I am so happy for them.

Congratulations, Jason and husband on your anniversary too. I happened to be down on Market Street during that window of sanity in Portland and I remember that line of happy couples and the questions my kids had. It was the start of many heart to hearts on what love and a family is. It is sweet to hear you both are still going strong.
Posted by kim in portland http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/11/fast-paced_video_provides_a_fu.html on March 3, 2010 at 1:09 PM
16
happy happy happy :)
Posted by Kristi in Kitsap on March 3, 2010 at 2:17 PM
jasonzenobia 17
@ 15 Thank you. We're coming up on 16 years together and I'm glad to hear that you've had some great sharing with your kids.

@12 Don't you dare tell me what would be "more productive" or "less divisive." I am not interested in catering to your sensibilities and I have no interest in half measures toward full equality. Where do you get off advising me on how I should fight for my rights?

And for your information, not only are you losing this fight, but you are demonstrably, morally and ethically wrong.

Shame on you again.
Posted by jasonzenobia http://jasonzenobia.blogspot.com/ on March 3, 2010 at 3:54 PM
Loveschild 18
"Where do you get off advising me on how I should fight for my rights?"

* * * * * *

The same place where you and those such as you get off dictating impositions to the rest of us. Once you all decided to do that and set your mind in changing a public institution it stop being your private matter only. I'm not the one disrespecting the public by trying to keep them from voting and being involved in their communities, the shame belongs to your side.

As for us losing this fight, the numbers of state we have secured and the pending amendments in a few states would contradict your lie.

In the meantime even some previous libertine nations are securing marriage now:

http://www.theage.com.au/national/senate…

We will overcome in the end and the family will be preserved.
Posted by Loveschild http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/responding_to_haiti_earthquake/ on March 3, 2010 at 7:11 PM
19
@18 -- Australia? Australia is your idea of a libertine nation? Australia is, if possible, even more hide-bound and reactionary than the U.S.
You're a dinosaur, and in another generation your kind will be extinct, making the world a better place.
Posted by Pam on March 3, 2010 at 7:42 PM
kim in portland 20
God Bless, the Greens. They do Australia proud. I'll kiss any and every Green that is in my neck of the woods!
Posted by kim in portland http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/11/fast-paced_video_provides_a_fu.html on March 3, 2010 at 8:27 PM
SecretBYUBottomBoy 21
That is a beautiful video.

It must really bite to be the person who wishes these folks' marriage ill.
Posted by SecretBYUBottomBoy on March 3, 2010 at 9:20 PM
22
I kind of wanted them to make a joke about getting married as soon as possible because of how quickly the right to get married can be revoked while those already married can remain married. Like we've seen in the past.
Posted by funkathrusta on March 4, 2010 at 1:59 AM
jasonzenobia 23
@18 Respecting other people's equality is an imposition?

When marriage equality triumphs, everyone is safer stronger and more respected. When you impose your narrow minded beliefs on the rest of us, you hurt people.

You are a mess.

I stand by everything I wrote.

Posted by jasonzenobia http://jasonzenobia.blogspot.com/ on March 4, 2010 at 6:37 AM
kim in portland 24
Crud! That is only half of what I put in my post @ 20. I have no idea how that happened. So, if this ends up as a double post, then my apologies.
________

You're correct, LC, the family will persevere. You can continue to deny people civil equality with your last gasping breath, but families that don't fit your "one man and one woman" description will not cease to exsist. There is no magic wand you can use to erase them. They will not go into hiding, because you wish them gone. Life will move forward for them, without your approval in every state in the US and in every country which includes the "previous libertine nation" of Australia. Again, bless the Greens for going to bat for justice and equality for all Australians, and for not accepting defeat. We could learn somthing from our friends down under.
Posted by kim in portland http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/11/fast-paced_video_provides_a_fu.html on March 4, 2010 at 8:49 AM

Add a comment

Advertisement
 

All contents © Index Newspapers, LLC
1535 11th Ave (Third Floor), Seattle, WA 98122
Contact Info | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Takedown Policy