tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988962265617663341.post7949570772060992671..comments2023-11-05T03:47:33.710-05:00Comments on Arcane Matters: It’s My Imaginary [Wedding] Party And I’ll Plan It If I Want To *UpdatedJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01233972102418274980noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988962265617663341.post-65360942024647427182008-05-18T17:40:00.000-04:002008-05-18T17:40:00.000-04:00You never know... here in Massachusetts we were lu...You never know... here in Massachusetts we were lucky to have a long process before something can go on the ballot. We went to the state house time and time and time again after gay marriage was legalized to protest and talk to state legislators, who had to approve the language of any ballot initiative. Last year they voted down the kind of referendum/ballot initiative that the folks in CA are trying to do by a ridiculous margin and the Focus on Family folks packe their bags. It could happen. And maybe, maybe we'll get someone in the white house who will actually overturn the federal DOMA, which would supercede Mitt Romney's fucked up interpretation of the 1913 law.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988962265617663341.post-36513185247869308092008-05-17T11:42:00.000-04:002008-05-17T11:42:00.000-04:00OK, so, as I understand it, here is what can/might...OK, so, as I understand it, here is what can/might happen in CA: <BR/><BR/>One month from now, queers can start getting married in CA IF...<BR/><BR/>1. The court doesn't stay the decision. The court has already been asked to stay the decision, meaning that it puts a hold on the enforcement of the decision, until the end of June when...<BR/><BR/>2. Conservative and religious groups prove that they have collected enough signatures to put a State Constitutional Amendment banning gay marriage on the November ballot. At present, it is believed that they did manage to collect enough signatures, but the petitions are being gone over by the court. If they failed to collect the signatures, then the court would be able to put aside the stay and enforce the decision. <BR/><BR/>If they do have enough signatures, the Amendment will be put on the CA ballot in November, and it is likely to pass. <BR/><BR/>Things get more interesting if the state of CA DOESN'T stay the decision and allows people to begin marrying but DOES decide that there are enough signatures on the petition. Then, if a vote in November added an Amendment, there would be the question of what happens to all of the marriages that took place from June- November. <BR/><BR/>Of course, if the issue goes to vote and fails, then people can begin marrying in November, I think. <BR/><BR/>Also, with respect to New York, there are some municipalities within the state which honor a marriage from someplace else (Nyack and Ithaca are two), but, as a whole, the State of New York will consider a "gay marriage" from someplace else to be equal to a domestic partnership in the state of NY, and DON'T get me started on that (for more information, feel free to visit my own blogspot blog!) So yes, you could hop over to CA from NY, get married and bring it back to NY and admire your pretty piece of paper, but, if you already have a domestic partnership, it's kind of redundant (and not a very fuel efficent way of getting one if you don't already have one). <BR/><BR/>It could also happen that, even if CA does go or marriage equality, the Powers That Be dig up an old law, like the 1913 law in MA, saying that you can only get married in CA if your home state will recognize your marriage (which is why, at present, only gay people from Rhode Island and MA can get married in MA.)<BR/><BR/>Whew. So. Yeah. To top this all off, I have two weddings to attend this summer... all people who have been in their relationships for a shorter period of time than I have but, what they hell. They've promised to come to my retirement-home wedding some day. Guess that will have to do for now.psapph0https://www.blogger.com/profile/06484775921386317369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988962265617663341.post-68117445617904485432008-05-17T10:09:00.000-04:002008-05-17T10:09:00.000-04:00From here in upstate NY, when I heard on NPR that ...From here in upstate NY, when I heard on NPR that CA had passed the right to marry. I initially teared up with excitement and hope, but quickly countered with the same thought you had, which is that it could be blocked soon. We'll see. I called my partner and fantasized about a nice ceremony on Muir Beach next summer with the added bonus of few family members being able to attend that far away. Sigh. I have hope that NY will get its collective mind right in my lifetime, but clearly we aren't holding our breath.Homestead Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05609656644515059452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988962265617663341.post-89096341470210293252008-05-16T14:59:00.000-04:002008-05-16T14:59:00.000-04:00It really is a great time here in California! As s...It really is a great time here in California! As soon as those days are up, we are going to be getting that beloved piece of paper. we've already had the commitment ceremony, but wow- to actually be legal and have the same rights! I couldn't help but cry when I found out the news.Audrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13244320704174131237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988962265617663341.post-33726825810676729872008-05-16T13:02:00.000-04:002008-05-16T13:02:00.000-04:00I am so envious of those in California. Of course...I am so envious of those in California. Of course, I don't want to live there but I want to get married too!!!<BR/><BR/>I read your post on mothers day and it made me cry. I am so amazed at what people go through to get pregnant. I did IUIs for one year and one IVF cycle and thought I was going to die. Luckily, my partner is more fertile. Is it not amazing how many of us "bad [gay] parents" work so hard to have babies and then take such good care of them? It really is amazing that we can't all get married!Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10318588491228591056noreply@blogger.com