Secrets of the City » marriage

Forget Marriage, Let’s Have Family Units

Cristina Cordova — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:54:08 +0000

“I wonder what would happen if we abolished marriage and replaced it with ‘family units’,” asks April over at ethecofem. “Any 2 or more persons can enter into a single family unit. Two men, two women, a man and a woman, an adult and child, two adults and one or more children, three generations of people.”

People would get tax benefits for being a part of a family unit, of course, along with other benefits now associated with marriages. And you would be able to easily dissolve family units, change them, or even merge them. Yes, theoretically, two family units could merge together and become one. Hmmm… this would surely make child rearing easier, no? Polygamy?

“It would automatically allow for polygamous relationships to be legally recognized.”

What say you, peeps? Absurd? Or is she onto something here?

The Conservative Case FOR Gay Marriage

Cristina Cordova — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 06:00:22 +0000

Yes, you read that correctly.

MNPublius’s Jeff Rosenberg highlights “something we have seen little of up until now: A conservative argument for equal marriage.” Following are excerpts from the opening statement presented by Ted Olson, former solicitor general of the Bush administration and one of the two lawyers leading the case against Prop 8 in California.

This case is about marriage and equality. Plaintiffs are being denied both the right to marry, and the right to equality under the law.

Marriage is central to life in America. It promotes mental, physical and emotional health and the economic strength and stability of those who enter into a marital union. It is the building block of family, neighborhood and community.

While marriage has been a revered and important institution throughout the history of this country and this State, it has also evolved to shed irrational, unwarranted, and discriminatory restrictions and limitations that reflected the biases, prejudices or stereotypes of the past. … Far from harming the institution of marriage, the elimination of discriminatory restrictions on marriage has strengthened the institution, its vitality, and its importance in American society today.

“Procreation” cannot be a justification inasmuch as Proposition 8 permits marriage by persons who are unable or have no intention of producing children. Indeed, the institution of civil marriage in this country has never been tied to the procreative capacity of those seeking to marry.

Surprise! – Kersten Slams Gay Marriage

Cristina Cordova — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:32:24 +0000

Apparently, marriage isn’t about love at all (perhaps we knew that), but about reproduction — or something like that. Katherine Kersten breaks down the “slippery slope” of gay marriage, claiming it’s not antigay bigotry that keeps her from supporting it, but the simple fact that, “Sex between men and women creates new human beings.” According to Kersten, gay marriage would, “gut marriage of its fundamental meaning and transform it from an institution centered on children and the mother/father nuclear family to one centered on adults.”

Ok, so marriage is about children, not adults. Does a childless marriage also threaten the institution? Birth control? Infertility? Ok, so how about establishing some other form of union for us childless beasts? Anybody want to suggest a name?

Maybe our DFL gubernatorial candidates can weigh in on the issue.

Gay Marriage in St. Paul — Sort Of

Max Sparber — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:23:35 +0000

The Star-Tribune reports: Unmarried couples — same sex or not — will soon be able to register their names with the city of St. Paul to get a certificate saying they’re in a committed relationship.

Bill to allow same-sex unions introduced

Max Sparber — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 05:57:00 +0000

The Star-Tribune reports: The next round of the perennial battle over same-sex marriage in Minnesota was officially joined on Thursday. A bill that would define marriage as a civil contract between “two persons,” rather than a man and a woman, was introduced in the state Senate, sponsored by five DFL members.

Iowa marriage no longer limited to one man, one woman

Max Sparber — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:22:02 +0000

Our neighbors to the south, thanks to a unanimous ruling from the Iowa Supreme Court, allows gay couples to legally marry in Iowa beginning April 24.

Gay Marriage in Minnesota

Max Sparber — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:13:27 +0000

Erica at Cinna.mn answers the question “Where should I donate to support marriage equality in Minnesota?” In the meanwhile, the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library offers a surprisingly detailed list of resources on the topic of same-sex marriage in Minnesota. Senator John Marty, on MinnPost, argues that it is time to move foreward on the subject.

Minnesota’s gay community purposely moving slowly on gay marriage efforts

Max Sparber — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:45:21 +0000

MinnPost discusses the unique difficulties in legalizing gay marriage in Minnesota: “We’re all about marriage equality,” said Phil Duran, staff attorney for Outfront Minnesota, an organization that pushes for rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. “But litigation is NOT a good idea at this time. I find this personally frustrating. I went to law school because I wanted to rattle cages, but …”

When couples who want to go to court to win the right to marry come to Outfront, they’re told, “Not yet.”