On 11 Jun 2001, DsR wrote:
> Second, the benefits of state-sanctioned marriage are there, yes,
> especially as it may relate to entitlement programs. But . . .
It doesn't undercut your argument about what motivates most proponents, but I just have interject that the one area marriage provides rights that can't be supplied by contracts is in immigration, an area Yoshie mentioned. To see couples who have lived together for years get ripped apart maybe forever just because one of their visas ran out really impresses upon you the huge unfairness of it all. Since if they were straight all they would have to do is to get married and that would be that.
Michael
__________________________________________________________________________ Michael Pollak................New York City..............mpollak at panix.com