A new Washington Post-ABC poll shows support for gay marriage equality at a new high with 58% of Americans stating they support marriage equality. It’s no surprise that people between 18-29 years old support marriage equality by an enormous margin: 81% of people in that age group favor it. The real surprise is that the… Continue Reading
Author Archives: Chris
Athletes and Other Sports Figures File Supreme Court Brief Supporting Gay Marriage Rights
A group of professional athletes and figures in pro sports have sent a friend of the court brief to the Supreme Court supporting marriage equality in a case next week challenging California’s Proposition 8. It’s no surprise that the brief was initiated by Brendon Ayanbadejo of the Baltimore Ravens and Chris Kluwe of the Minnesota Vikings. Both… Continue Reading
Florida Lawmakers Defeat Domestic Partnership Bill
Florida legislators have tabled a bill that would have created a domestic-partnership registry for same-sex (and opposite-sex) couples. State Sen. Eleanor Sobel, (D-Hollywood) introduced SB 196, the Families First Act, to the Florida Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs. It would have granted a few of the legal privileges of marriage: hospital and… Continue Reading
Mexican Supreme Court Rules That Bans on Gay Marriage Are Unconstitutional
Mexico’s Supreme Court announced its decision Monday that denying same-sex couples the right to marry is unconstitutionally discriminatory. Ironically, as the US Supreme Court is readying to hear arguments on whether the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, the Mexican Court’s ruling relies heavily on civil rights rulings handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court.… Continue Reading
Life insurance: a vehicle to address special concerns of unmarried couples and the unique family.
If you’re like most people you hear the term “life insurance” and immediately start contemplating your dinner plans or reminiscing about your last vacation. Let’s face it – the topic of insurance doesn’t generally captivate audiences. Although having adequate life insurance is important for most couples, unmarried couples should particularly consider how life insurance can help… Continue Reading
A Bill to Grant Benefits to Same Sex Military Partners
It was only a matter of time before the repeal of the ill-conceived Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy would run headlong into the Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”). Charlie Morgan, a chief warrant officer in the New Hampshire Army National Guard, passed away last week after a five-year battle with breast cancer, leaving behind her… Continue Reading
Senators Re-Introduce Immigration Bill to assist gay couples
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) announced this morning that he, along with Senate colleague Susan Collins (R-ME), will re-introduce the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). Senator Leahy reiterated his support for UAFA’s inclusion in any immigration reform bill stating: “We must also do better by gay and lesbian Americans who face discrimination in… Continue Reading
Wrap up of 2012
As you may know, I write this blog because I love educating those in our community about how to protect their families. Why then haven’t I written since September? Because in September both of my parents fell in and both died in November. Given the travel between hospitals in California and Minnesota and handling client… Continue Reading
Supreme Court Set Date to hear DOMA Cases
The Supreme Court says it will hear two days’ worth of arguments over laws affecting gay marriage during the last week of March. Justices on Monday announced they will hear arguments in Hollingsworth v. Perry on March 26 and United States v. Windsor on March 27. The first case involves California’s constitutional amendment that… Continue Reading
Choosing a Guardian, Part 5: When to Talk to Others About Your Decisions
This post concludes the series on choosing a guardian for your child by discussing when you should discuss your decisions with those closest to you. Presumably, you are very familiar with the person you’ve identified to be your child’s guardian. That makes you uniquely qualified to pick the proper time and format for talking to… Continue Reading