You know what I dream of? A world in which marriage is seperated forever from inheritance law. In olden days, the ancient and medieval West, a woman was regarded as a vessel for her husband's children. She was sold by her father to another man as chattel, and her sexuality was tightly controlled in order to ensure the paternity of her issue, so that the son who inherited the father's property was assuredly his and not another man's.
The modern notion of marriage as a legal institution is a direct
result of this kind of thinking. We ackowledge only the
partnerships that can result in children, and give tax breaks and
other allowances, etc, to those who are married only. The
truth is that inheritance and property ownership is the
rightful domain of the law; partners should inherit the
home they have lived in, and make decisions about their partner's
health, body, and burial.
Whatever you feel personally about homosexuality, some people
are going to live and share their lives with people of
the same sex. We need to accept this fact. Property law
is what it is, and inheritance is what it is - who cares
who I bequeath my property to, be it a man or a woman?
I personally see no difference between the commitment that exists
between my boyfriend and me and that between my friend Paul and his
partner. We both plan to spend our whole lives together, to share
homes and evenings and secrets, to support each other in all
things. When Paul dies, shouldn't the person he shared his entire
life with be with him? And if Paul is incapacitated, shouldn't his
partner decide what is in his best interest? Just as Andrew
will decide for me? Shouldn't Paul inherit his partner's
property?
We must not allow inheritance law and an antiquated notion of
partnership dictate how our law treats us. Civil unions for all
people, gay or straight, would permit inheritance law and tax
breaks for everyone equally. Religious organizations can then
determine the qualifications they choose for blessing those
unions.
The beauty of the seperation of church and state is that this is a
possibility for us in America.
