VICTORY in sight for Gay Civil Unions

[pslamont]

I read somewhere in the last week or so that someone in the state legislature was trying to amend the bill to exclude heterosexual couples from making civil unions. I hope that got squashed. It is just semantics anyway. I found it silly when Bob and I found ourselves in what I thought was an unusual situation. The Catholic Church does not recognize civil marriages. We were not married in the church (because I am a proud heretic) but our son wanted to take first communion with his class at school so we had to have him baptized and for that Bob and I had to be remarried in the church. UGH. According to them, we were living in sin, had an illegitimate child and were about to be finally saved!!! Josh (our son) was put in the parochial school because the public school could not find a spot for him. He read at 3, so when he went to kindergarten at 4, they tried to put him in second grade. I was having none of that. The only ones who would let him sail academically but spend most of his time with his age appropriate group was the Catholic school. Even then, they had a waiting list to get into first grade, but they gave an entrance exam and took him right away. Even back then, for accreditation the numbers had to be good on standardized tests. He had a great time there for five years, at which time he completed the 8th grade at age 10. Ahem.... the rest is another story but my point is that Church standings should NEVER have had a voice in civil ceremonies of any kind. Civil marriage, Civil union, whatever. Let the protestant churches set their own standards and live with them. We should have nationally recognized civil marriages/unions/whatever an not just state to state. It is a sad commentary on our own nation and the issues of civil rights that this has to be an issue but I am very pleased to see this first step being taken. Hopefully we can bring ALL civil rights to ALL citizens in our lifetime. Thanks for listening to my rant. It is certainly a pet peeve.... go figure!

Oh, by the way, my husband is Catholic. The priest refused to marry us because I was a heretic. He used a Universal Life Church minister for our 'first" marriage and it is the only one WE recognize or celebrate. So how did I get married in the Church? I lied, pure and simple. Not proud of it but it solved the problem at the time and didn't mean a thing to me!

I guess I just want to let all the brothers and sisters out there who are suffering with this know that a few of us have had tiny, slivers of experience with the process and are very pleased to see it being cleaned up. It's not done but it sure is started. Churches should have no voice in civil law regarding equality and civil rights.

(edited for spelling)

Pam

I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet
hit the floor each morning, the devil says

"Oh Crap, She's up!"