Comments on: ‘If not now, when?’: McCollum, Ellison sponsor repeal of marriage ban http://thecolu.mn/413/if-not-now-when-mccollum-ellison-sponsor-repeal-of-marriage-ban LGBT Society Now! Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:40:00 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: TheColu.mn » Blog Archive » One in Five US Same-Gender Couples Call Themeselves “Married” http://thecolu.mn/413/if-not-now-when-mccollum-ellison-sponsor-repeal-of-marriage-ban/comment-page-1#comment-92 TheColu.mn » Blog Archive » One in Five US Same-Gender Couples Call Themeselves “Married” Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:52:02 +0000 http://thecolu.mn/?p=413#comment-92 [...] disparity to couples living in states without marriage equality, but it also raises the question of how accepted the term “marriage” is within the community, a critical component of some activists’ arguments against the Human Rights Campaign’s [...] [...] disparity to couples living in states without marriage equality, but it also raises the question of how accepted the term “marriage” is within the community, a critical component of some activists’ arguments against the Human Rights Campaign’s [...]

]]> By: Duane Gajewski http://thecolu.mn/413/if-not-now-when-mccollum-ellison-sponsor-repeal-of-marriage-ban/comment-page-1#comment-60 Duane Gajewski Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:42:04 +0000 http://thecolu.mn/?p=413#comment-60 I can empathize with Lady Enchantress but would submit that legalizing same-sex marriage will benefit all GLBT folks, whether they wish to marry or not. Increasing access to health care, housing, and services are important. Legalizing gay marriage would provide spouses of GLBT people and their children access to health care benefits through employer offered health benefits. It would ensure housing can remain within GLBT families through access to inheritance laws. Same-sex marriage would also increase services to GLBT family members through government services such as Social Security and would enhance financial security of GLBT families through access to pensions. Further, just the advancement of any GLBT rights, including gay-marriage, enhances acceptance of GLBT individuals legally and socially. Enhancing acceptance and appreciation of GLBT people will help reduce the instances of maltreatment and discrimination and improve the quality of life of future GLBT generations. I can empathize with Lady Enchantress but would submit that legalizing same-sex marriage will benefit all GLBT folks, whether they wish to marry or not.

Increasing access to health care, housing, and services are important. Legalizing gay marriage would provide spouses of GLBT people and their children access to health care benefits through employer offered health benefits. It would ensure housing can remain within GLBT families through access to inheritance laws. Same-sex marriage would also increase services to GLBT family members through government services such as Social Security and would enhance financial security of GLBT families through access to pensions.

Further, just the advancement of any GLBT rights, including gay-marriage, enhances acceptance of GLBT individuals legally and socially. Enhancing acceptance and appreciation of GLBT people will help reduce the instances of maltreatment and discrimination and improve the quality of life of future GLBT generations.

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