11-23-2008, 08:49 PM
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/1/7.html
"In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word “marriage” means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word “spouse” refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife. "
How many state and local laws, federal laws, contracts, insurance policies, wills etc. are there based on this definition of marriage? How are current legal instruments affected if this definition changed?
Gay "civil unions" are fine with me. Give them the same legal rights, but under a different definition such that it is a union between two people of the same sex, and "spouse" refers only to a person of the same sex who is a partner in the civil union.
There's no need to redefine my union of choice.
"In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word “marriage” means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word “spouse” refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife. "
How many state and local laws, federal laws, contracts, insurance policies, wills etc. are there based on this definition of marriage? How are current legal instruments affected if this definition changed?
Gay "civil unions" are fine with me. Give them the same legal rights, but under a different definition such that it is a union between two people of the same sex, and "spouse" refers only to a person of the same sex who is a partner in the civil union.
There's no need to redefine my union of choice.