Dublin Core
Title
Wedded Gays Face Legal Problems
Description
"State law unfairly denies gay couples the right to legally marry, said Ruth Colker, law professor at Tulane University"...
Creator
Amy Mounts
Source
University of Tennessee Daily Beacon
Publisher
Knoxville, Tenn. : University of Tennessee, 1973-
Date
1991-04-12
Format
Newspaper : State or province government publication
Language
English
Coverage
University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Campus)
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
State law unfairly denies gay couples the right to legally marry, said Ruth Colker, law professor at Tulane University.
As guest lecturer at the UT Law School last week, Colker implored law students to investigate and change sexually discriminatory legal practices.
Because same-sex marriages are not legally recognized, gays are not entitled to the same legal rights as heterosexual couples, she said.
"Gay marriages occur in ceremony only. A committed couple cannot, under current laws, draw upon any benefits a spouse normally receives," Colker said. "Gay couples are considered second-class citizens
"Although the laws regarding marriage are not gender-specific, the courts interpret them to say homosexuals cannot be married," she said. "Nowhere in the definitions are same-sex marriages mentioned."
Colker is a graduate of Harvard law school and an advisor to the American Civil Liberties Union on AIDS and gay and lesbian issues. She is writing a book on abortion and family planning. As an attorney, she has defended discrimination cases for homosexual couples.
Unlike heterosexual couples, homosexuals cannot receive a partner's social security benefits. They cannot gain U.S. citizenship through marriage. Rarely are they granted inheritance of estates and after the death of a partner, homosexuals have no right to custody of their children.
If the relatives cannot take the child, it then becomes a ward of the state. Homosexuals are restricted from adopting children as well, Colker said.
"There is a lesbian baby boom going on right now," Colker said. She attributed this to growing acceptance of homosexuality and accessibility of artificial insemination.
The president of the Gay and Lesbian Student Union was among several members of the gay community present.
"This program was an excellent way to bring gay rights out of the closet, so to speak," GLSU President Kurt Hass said.
"There is no question that the homophobic treatment of homosexual citizens must be stopped, and what a great opportunity to reach our future lawyers and lawmakers," he said. "I only hope that a major change will be seen in our lifetime."
As guest lecturer at the UT Law School last week, Colker implored law students to investigate and change sexually discriminatory legal practices.
Because same-sex marriages are not legally recognized, gays are not entitled to the same legal rights as heterosexual couples, she said.
"Gay marriages occur in ceremony only. A committed couple cannot, under current laws, draw upon any benefits a spouse normally receives," Colker said. "Gay couples are considered second-class citizens
"Although the laws regarding marriage are not gender-specific, the courts interpret them to say homosexuals cannot be married," she said. "Nowhere in the definitions are same-sex marriages mentioned."
Colker is a graduate of Harvard law school and an advisor to the American Civil Liberties Union on AIDS and gay and lesbian issues. She is writing a book on abortion and family planning. As an attorney, she has defended discrimination cases for homosexual couples.
Unlike heterosexual couples, homosexuals cannot receive a partner's social security benefits. They cannot gain U.S. citizenship through marriage. Rarely are they granted inheritance of estates and after the death of a partner, homosexuals have no right to custody of their children.
If the relatives cannot take the child, it then becomes a ward of the state. Homosexuals are restricted from adopting children as well, Colker said.
"There is a lesbian baby boom going on right now," Colker said. She attributed this to growing acceptance of homosexuality and accessibility of artificial insemination.
The president of the Gay and Lesbian Student Union was among several members of the gay community present.
"This program was an excellent way to bring gay rights out of the closet, so to speak," GLSU President Kurt Hass said.
"There is no question that the homophobic treatment of homosexual citizens must be stopped, and what a great opportunity to reach our future lawyers and lawmakers," he said. "I only hope that a major change will be seen in our lifetime."
Original Format
Print Newspaper