Lo, many moons past, on Thu, 26 Feb 2004 22:52:52 -0000, a stranger
called by some "Jez" came forth
and told this tale in us.military.army

I suppose this has been answered earlier in the thread, but, if
you don't mind me asking, why would 'same-sex couples' want to get
married anyway ??

Pensions ? Keeping the house when a partner died...?? What ??
Is it a legal thing, or a religious thing ??

Just wondering.....

There are over a thousand legal benefits granted to married couples in
the United States. You've mentioned a couple.

Add in things like the ability to file joint tax returns, automatic
assumption of next-of-kin status, the fact that married couples cannot
be compelled to testify against one another, inheritance, insurance
benefits, etc.. it is a desirable state.

A group in San Francisco did a study a few years back, and figured out
it would take close to $30,000 and dozens of court visits to get even
close to what an $81 marriage license grants. And even then, you
don't get all the benefits.

But all that is secondary. Same-sex couples get married for the same
reason opposite sex couples get married: They are in love, and want
to join their lives. When I proposed to my wife, I didn't phrase it
as a business arrangement, I told her I loved her, and wanted to marry
her.

I wish you all could have seen SF City Hall during the first week of
gay marriages. The place was filled with joy. Couples who had been
together for decades were finally hearing words that had been denied
them. You couldn't find a bouquet in a five mile radius - they had
all been donated to the couples standing in line. A bridal shop took
all their old dresses, and gave them to people waiting in line,
walking down the line shouting "who needs a size 14? size 8? Remember
to pass it along!"

What does marriage mean to gays and lesbians? Thousands of people
slept on the sidewalk during a Pacific storm (heavy rains, high winds,
temps in the low 40s) for the chance to get married. People drove
from Kansas, Texas, even from Georgia because they couldn't get a seat
on a plane. People brought their parents, their kids, their friends.
I saw a SFPD officer and her partner married by the SFPD's chaplain,
with a full honor guard of officers. As each couple existed City
Hall, they held they marriage certificates up like a trophy, and get
cheers from the hundreds lined up along the sidewalks.

It's about love. As is all marriage.
--

Douglas Berry Do the OBVIOUS thing to send e-mail

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