Posts Tagged: Civil Union

Civil Union / Global / Miscellaneous / North America — No Comments
19
Feb 11

FACEBOOK GETS GAY-FRIENDLIER

Facebook adds civil union to relationship choices

Good news I guess – Facebook now lets you list yourself as being in a ‘civil union’ or a ‘domestic partnership.’ But it really does beg two questions:  why would anyone would actively seek to embrace the phrases? and why did it take so long?

Maybe I am just a whinger, but if I was in a gay couple in a civil union, I’d just list myself as married. Maybe straights would benefit from the new choice, but that’s not really the greater injustice of the two.  And if you’re gay and insist on listing yourself as being in a ‘registered partnership’ then I wouldn’t want to be your friend on Facebook anyway!  It’s like walking around with a ‘second-class’ sign on your back. You get a registered partnership to protect some rights, not to be proud.

And given that Facebook is meant to be a new-fangled no red-tape, just connecting the kids sort of place (co-founded by a really prominent gay guy who wants to get married – Chris Hughes – it’s surprising that it took this long.  That’s doesn’t mean it’s not welcome, but I certainly won’t be leading a chain of applause for something so obvious.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Civil Union / North America — 4 Comments
14
Feb 11

CIVIL UNIONS: WORSE THAN NOTHING?

I am not sure we could say that civil unions in and of themselves are a backward step, but that is indeed what is argued in this piece from Noah Baron in the Huffington Post. I get that back civil unions is usually a cop out that lets people off the hook from arguing for or implementing full equality. In that sense they can be a strategic wrecking ball and an annoying halfway house. But we can’t just dismiss civil unions. Why? Some people don’t want to marry, but do want a legal security and a form of recognition. As long as they also actively support my right to marry – let them be civilly united.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Civil Union / Europe / Miscellaneous / Personal Stories — No Comments
10
Nov 10

THE TYRANNY OF MARRIAGE

Cartoon by John Crowther

I thought it would be fun for once to publish the arguments against marriage … not the against the right to marriage, but against what the institution sometimes serves up even in 2010.

From the Guardian, and inspired by the UK campaign to make both marriage and civil unions open to all.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Civil Union — No Comments
7
May 10

LOVE DOES NEED APPROVAL; SEPARATE IS NOT EQUAL

zazzle.co.nz

You might think that people don’t need marriage certificates to prove their love and obtain rights in the 21st century. Sometimes that simply is not correct.

Imagine this situation: your mum and dad have travlled from the state, province or country next to yours in order to visit you. Your dad, who always loved French Fries and eggs has a heart attack. He’s rushed to hospital. He needs surgery and you get to see him immediately, but your Mum is blocked by the staff because she’s not immediate family. Why? Because your parents have only a civil union. It’s not recognised where you live; maybe the hospital staff don’t speak the same language or they simply don’t ‘get’ what a civil union is. The nurse tells your Mother to calm down and go get a coffee!

How would you feel about that?  Furious, insulted, betrayed? Hopefully all of the above, because it would be outrageous. But it happens to lesbians and gays every day. And 90% of the world’s lesbians and gays don’t have access to even a civil union. Another reason why we need equality.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Europe / Politicians / Rights / Surprising Marriage Equality Supporters — No Comments
11
Apr 10

TORIES HUGGING GAYS?

UK Conservatives leader David Cameron

An interesting development in the UK election campaign.   The traditionally right-wing Conservative party are now using explicitly gay-friendly language to promote support for gay marriages in their election campaigning.

Asked about why he planned to introduce a ‘married couples’ tax break, the Conservative’s candidate for Prime Minister, David Cameron is bluntly saying gay civil unions are included:  “I really believe in families and marriage and civil partnerships,” Cameron says.

They’re now even engaging with Peter Tatchell (a neat stunt), saying they would be “happy to consider the case for gay marriage” and tweeting about reversing past injustices. The real test will be what happens if they win.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post