Why do they need marriage?

T

Timshel

New member
They can get power of attorney and take care of everything they need through contracts, right? [URL="http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2-texas-man-after-34-years-my-partners-sister-legally-took-our-home-because-we-werent-married/legal-issues/2013/04/29/66089"]

[url]http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2-texas-man-after-34-years-my-partners-sister-legally-took-our-home-because-we-werent-married/legal-issues/2013/04/29/66089

[/URL][/URL]A Texas man says he and his partner were together for 34 years but his partner’s sister has now forced them apart, taken their home, and his partner’s finances — and done it legally because they weren’t married. For the last six years his partner, Jim, who is older, suffered from Alzheimer’s. Jim’s estranged sister, Lon Watts writes on Facebook, was able to take their home and Jim’s finances through the courts by filing for guardianship — despite Lon having power of attorney.


“She put him in a Nursing Home and had criminal trespass orders against me to keep me away from him,” Lon Watts writes:

I’LL NEVER BE ABLE TO SEE HIM AGAIN! She got his bank account from Social Security Disability and sold his house out from under me. I had 2 weeks to vacate uur home of 12 years. [sic]

If we were EQUAL in the eyes of the law we would be together till the end. But as it stands in Texas, a money hungry greedy relative was able to steal our life and toss me out as trash to pad her pocketbook. I pray God has mercy on her soul for her evil deeds. I am content knowing the world is coming around to acknowledge that ALL HUMANS ARE CREATED EQUAL and SHOULD HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS.

Lon’s story has been shared almost 3000 times on Facebook and has more than 3000 likes. Sadly, Lon and Jim’s story, and others like it, are the exact reason why marriage must be extended to all same-sex couples across the entire nation.

Anyone who claims needs and rights of same-sex couples can be protected through some legal forms is not only mistaken, but wholly wrong and spreading false information.

One Facebook commenter notes:

Power of attorney is only for medical decisions. In the state of Texas all of the following must be obtained :

Cohabitation/Property Agreements
Name Changes
Second Parent Adoptions
Medical Record Releases
Wills
Trusts
Guardianships
Living Wills
Powers of Attorney
Probate

Power of Attorney in not enough!

When it comes to inheritance, distribution of property and personal effects, medical, financial, and burial decisions, no one who is not your legal spouse or blood relative has any rights to act on your behalf. Gay marriages and civil unions are not currently recognized in Texas. Therefore, it is essential for the Texas LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community to have comprehensive and thorough planning that is tailored to protect themselves and their families.

While another writes:

No that is incorrect! POA does NOT cover medical decisions in Texas!! You must have a medical power of attorney to handle medical issues. Please consult with an attorney before assuming what each document does. I handle these matters for the LGBT community and it is so important to have the right things in place. You must be sure to express each need to your legal practitioner and then make sure you understand what each document you have covers and what protection it provides for you.

All of which merely expose the fact that not only does each state handle LGBT issues differently, there’s a great deal of confusion even within the LGBT community.

Even then, same-sex couples have to fight with hospitals and courts to make certain our wishes are followed — when we are at our most vulnerable, sick or unable to do so for ourselves.

Opposite-sex couples don’t have to worry about any of this — they just get married and get over 1100 rights, automatically.

We’ve reached out to Lon, who shared his story with the excellent Gay Marriage USA Facebook page, to see how we can help.

If there’s anyone who can offer legal advice or assistance please contact Lon directly through his Facebook page.[URL="http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2-texas-man-after-34-years-my-partners-sister-legally-took-our-home-because-we-werent-married/legal-issues/2013/04/29/66089"][/URL]
 
Your article is from the site 'The New Civil Rights Movement' (An Online Journal Of News & Opinion On Gay Rights & Marriage Equality)

That is an appropriate name.

I remember the first Civil Rights Movement. The words from President Kennedy's TV address to the nation still resonate in my ears.

http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKWHA-194-001.aspx

A few excerpts:

"I hope that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents. This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.

This is not a sectional issue. Difficulties over segregation and discrimination exist in every city, in every State of the Union, producing in many cities a rising tide of discontent that threatens the public safety. Nor is this a partisan issue. In a time of domestic crisis men of good will and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics. This is not even a legal or legislative issue alone. It is better to settle these matters in the courts than on the streets, and new laws are needed at every level, but law alone cannot make men see right. We are confronted primarily with a moral issue. It is as old as the Scriptures and is as clear as the American Constitution.

The heart of the question is whether all Americans are to be afforded equal rights and equal opportunities, whether we are going to treat our fellow Americans as we want to be treated. If an American, because his skin is dark, cannot eat lunch in a restaurant open to the public, if he cannot send his children to the best public school available, if he cannot vote for the public officials who will represent him, if, in short, he cannot enjoy the full and free life which all of us want, then who among us would be content to have the color of his skin changed and stand in his place? Who among us would then be content with the counsels of patience and delay?"
 
cuz everybody knows, that if two guys are married next door, the hetero marriages on the block will all disintegrate.
 
DamnYankee said:
They don't. They simply want to destroy traditional society.
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Wow, you really are a remarkably ignorant, bigoted asshole, aren't you. Have you even met a gay person before? I used to have some bigoted beliefs, too, but once I realized that gay people only want to pursue happiness the same as anyone else, I was finally able to let go of my hate (and let's not beat around the bush, hate is exactly what it is). You should consider doing the same.
 
They don't. They simply want to destroy traditional society.
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Did you read the article? Any response? Your position is nothing but a bunch of cynical paranoia. They want equality, there is no reason they should not have it and they will get it.
 
the only explanation I can imagine for the OP is that when she filed for guardianship he failed to appear in court and show the judge he already held a legal power of attorney. If he had done that the court would likely have given guardianship to him instead of the sister.
 
PostmodernProphet said:
the only explanation I can imagine for the OP is that when she filed for guardianship he failed to appear in court and show the judge he already held a legal power of attorney. If he had done that the court would likely have given guardianship to him instead of the sister.
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So your imaginary accounts of what happened are all that really matters?

When it comes to inheritance, distribution of property and personal effects, medical, financial, and burial decisions, no one who is not your legal spouse or blood relative has any rights to act on your behalf. Gay marriages and civil unions are not currently recognized in Texas. Therefore, it is essential for the Texas LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community to have comprehensive and thorough planning that is tailored to protect themselves and their families.

If they jump through numerous hoops MAYBE the courts will recognize their rights or we can make it simple and allow them to marry. The notion that their desire is anything more than equality is nothing but cynical nonsense from xenophobes and socially conservative bigots.

 
Thithicus said:
Wow, you really are a remarkably ignorant, bigoted asshole, aren't you. Have you even met a gay person before? I used to have some bigoted beliefs, too, but once I realized that gay people only want to pursue happiness the same as anyone else, I was finally able to let go of my hate (and let's not beat around the bush, hate is exactly what it is). You should consider doing the same.
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You're assuming that my motivations are the same as yours, and I assure you that they are not.

I am disappointed that you would bottom out so quickly, using the "bigot" logical fallacy.
 
DamnYankee said:
They can get equality with civil unions, so no paranoia here. I see this shit for what it actually is.
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So...tell me Yank....what skin is it off your nose?

If one church decides to do it and one church chooses not to....I guess the second church is the one for you.

I love how you guys scream freedom on a continual basis...but your too much of a bunch of pussies to stand up for freedom for people you don't like....in fact, you don't want freedom for them.
 
Steelplate said:
So...tell me Yank....what skin is it off your nose?

If one church decides to do it and one church chooses not to....I guess the second church is the one for you.

I love how you guys scream freedom on a continual basis...but your too much of a bunch of pussies to stand up for freedom for people you don't like....in fact, you don't want freedom for them.
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This is a logical fallacy, that since it doesn't affect me directly it should be OK.

You could make that same argument for bestiality.
 
DamnYankee said:
They can get equality with civil unions, so no paranoia here. I see this shit for what it actually is.
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Which can then be used to differentiate between the classes of marriage and is in fact the only reason for the distinction. The courts won't allow separate but equal. We have been down that road before.

You don't understand the legal precedents that have been in place for decades but you can see this clearly. You are not clairvoyant. You are cynical, paranoid, and deranged.
 
Sir Digby Chicken Caesar said:
Which can then be used to differentiate between the classes of marriage and is in fact the only reason for the distinction. The courts won't allow separate but equal. We have been down that road before.

You don't understand the legal precedents that have been in place for decades but you can see this clearly. You are not clairvoyant. You are cynical, paranoid, and deranged.
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You're "separate but equal" argument only works for civil rights. Civil marriage is a licensing issue; a privilege.
 
Sir Digby Chicken Caesar said:
So your imaginary accounts of what happened are all that really matters?
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/shrugs....I would recommend it over falling for the lies you spread around......I can't speak for Texas law, but I know that in Michigan if a similar thing had happened and a person appeared with a signed power of attorney the judge would have appointed that person as guardian in place of the sister.....

.....
 
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