Dumb Gay Marriage Question

[iLander]

Okay, so here's my dumb question: suppose a gay couple gets married in state A, where it's allowed. Then they travel to state B, where it's not allowed. Suppose one of the couple is in an accident, in state B, and is hospitalized. In state B, are the hospital personnel required to provide them the same rights as any other married couple? Rights like visiting hours, care decisions, etc.

I guess I'm asking if the rights of married gays are recognized through all the states. Are they "transportable"?

If not, why not? If so, good, I would feel a little better about the world.

I just saw a picture of Neil Patrick Harris and his adorable family so this got me thinking about gay family rights.

 

[amc80]

Hmm, good question. I have a former friend who got caught up in a state issue like this. She and her girlfriend lived here, in NV, where gay marriage wasn't recognized. They went over to CA to get married. Then they broke up and couldn't divorce since they weren't CA residents and NV never recognized the marriage to start

 

[sonnyjane]

iLander,

In short, no. If you're married in a state where gay marriage is legal, they will NOT recognize your status as a married couple in other states. As of right now, it's up to each individual state to decide and many are kicking their feet and digging in their heels. This is why it's such a sad civil rights situation.

The recent Supreme Court hearings were a step in the right direction, but you still have to live in one of the 13 states that recognize gay marriage to get the benefits. If you leave, no protection or rights!

 

[iLander]

iLander,

In short, no. If you're married in a state where gay marriage is legal, they will NOT recognize your status as a married couple in other states. As of right now, it's up to each individual state to decide and many are kicking their feet and digging in their heels. This is why it's such a sad civil rights situation.

The recent Supreme Court hearings were a step in the right direction, but you still have to live in one of the 13 states that recognize gay marriage to get the benefits. If you leave, no protection or rights!

Seriously?!! What a freakin' mess! If I were gay, I would never live in a non-marriage state . . .

Oh, for crying out loud. When will we EVER progress? Why is this society so backward?

You know, when Obama was elected, I was full of joy and pride about this country. I felt like we were modern and civilized, like other countries in the world, and we wouldn't have to be embarrassed anymore.

But apparently racism is still part of this country's moronic baggage. It seems like so many in this country wants to drag us backward, like we are the idiots of the world stage. This country's attitude toward gays is further evidence of this stupidity.

You're right, sonnyjane, it is indeed a civil rights issue and it should be called that.

 

[sonnyjane]

iLander,

In short, no. If you're married in a state where gay marriage is legal, they will NOT recognize your status as a married couple in other states. As of right now, it's up to each individual state to decide and many are kicking their feet and digging in their heels. This is why it's such a sad civil rights situation.

The recent Supreme Court hearings were a step in the right direction, but you still have to live in one of the 13 states that recognize gay marriage to get the benefits. If you leave, no protection or rights!

Seriously?!! What a freakin' mess! If I were gay, I would never live in a non-marriage state . . .

Oh, for crying out loud. When will we EVER progress? Why is this society so backward?

You know, when Obama was elected, I was full of joy and pride about this country. I felt like we were modern and civilized, like other countries in the world, and we wouldn't have to be embarrassed anymore.

But apparently racism is still part of this country's moronic baggage. It seems like so many in this country wants to drag us backward, like we are the idiots of the world stage. This country's attitude toward gays is further evidence of this stupidity.

You're right, sonnyjane, it is indeed a civil rights issue and it should be called that.

Yup, completely awful. It's easy to say that you would never live in a non-marriage state but sometimes you don't have that choice! Transferred for work, moving for family, etc. Basically it sucks all around...

 

[megumic]

This is so not a dumb question. I did a massive research paper on transgender marriage in law school and similarly, there are major repercussions when you cross state lines. It is so sad and so redic.

 

[ksinger]

iLander,

In short, no. If you're married in a state where gay marriage is legal, they will NOT recognize your status as a married couple in other states. As of right now, it's up to each individual state to decide and many are kicking their feet and digging in their heels. This is why it's such a sad civil rights situation.

The recent Supreme Court hearings were a step in the right direction, but you still have to live in one of the 13 states that recognize gay marriage to get the benefits. If you leave, no protection or rights!

Seriously?!! What a freakin' mess! If I were gay, I would never live in a non-marriage state . . .

Oh, for crying out loud. When will we EVER progress? Why is this society so backward?

You know, when Obama was elected, I was full of joy and pride about this country. I felt like we were modern and civilized, like other countries in the world, and we wouldn't have to be embarrassed anymore.

But apparently racism is still part of this country's moronic baggage. It seems like so many in this country wants to drag us backward, like we are the idiots of the world stage. This country's attitude toward gays is further evidence of this stupidity.

You're right, sonnyjane, it is indeed a civil rights issue and it should be called that.

Are you serious iLander? You're hardly a kid, and you're whinging that change is coming too slowly? Just in the course of your lifetime look at what has happened. A black president (twice no less!), gay marriage in 13 states, blacks and whites marry without much comment anymore, and a host of other societal changes that we could barely have imagined when we were teens. I know it seems glacial perhaps, but considering the pace of social change in eras past, we're darn near hurtling into change. And it isn't like every other country has had gay marriage now for 30 or 40 years and we are lagging soooo far behind everyone else. Gay marriage is a new thing everywhere, not just here. Gay marriage and a host of other changes WILL happen here, and the forces arrayed against those changes are gasping their last. Gay marriage may be unremarkable to you and seem overly obvious and so you are impatient to get on with it, but from a societal standpoint, this IS a big deal. Change on this scale is never smooth and never without conflict. That's just the way it is.

Take the long perspective. It's better for your blood pressure.