Equal Junction

This is unbelievable, this doesn’t necessarily fall under LGBT, but I wouldn’t be surprised if and when a Latino/a same-sex couple will be in this unfortunate situation in Arizona. Since I am Mexican, I have been asked by police if I was legally born in the United States, even after I showed my license and state ID. We feel so terrible for this couple that had to go through this…

A man and a woman walk into the county clerk’s office, they spend $40.00 USD and they are wed and legally protected.

A man and a man, or woman and a woman walk into the county clerk’s office and they, well really don’t get anything.

To organize a will, benefits, and other legal protections could cost thousands, and that just the beginning. The Chicago Tribune featured the Wax-Pooley Family. Unlike the majority of heterosexual couples, they had to pay $10,000 USD for using wills, trusts, and powers of attorney (the protections a $40 marriage could afford). This family knew it was important to do this since they are parents to toddler twins who need to be protected as well.  Similar situation happened to the Walker-Ferguson Family-a Lesbian couple who are expecting (Melissa Walker is pregnant) and Erin Ferguson needs to spend $2,000 to adopt the child so they are both legally parents.

Whats common between these two couples is that they are doing it for the best interest of their partners and their children. In regards to protecting the family, homosexual couples are the same as heterosexual couples, yet, because of unfair recognition, there is a clear story here of inequality.

Since the dawn of Proposition 8 in ‘08, the Williams Institute commenced research and estimated what damage the passage of prop 8 will do overtime.  Prior to it’s passage, Williams Institute hit the ground running by establishing how many couples were married and how many individuals will be affected by the turnout.

California: 18,000 couples = 36,000 individuals

Williams Institute has been the driving force of the trial that is occurring in San Francisco.

Just a Few Facts:

According to Williams Institute and Jerome Cleary, California activist, passage of Prop 8 will, overtime, cost California $800,000,000 USD due to losses of revenue from marriages and various auxiliary services.

Coincidentally, the same year California had to cut budgets to education-just over $1.6 billion over time.  If the Lesbian and Gay community can participate same as heterosexual citizens of California, then our state will have a brighter, more prosperous future. If you don’t get it, our $800,000,000 can really help out that $1.6 billion.

If their estimates hold true, California will get further away from solving the budget deficit that the Lesbian and Gay community CAN assist in solving.  We are citizens too, we are your brothers and sisters who can lend a helping hand. All we ask is to be included in the same rights of others.  Justice can prevail.

Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons