Talk about kismet ...

[veronica_rich]

How weird that two of my f-listers bring up subjects sort of related on the same day (and neither has anything to do with Anna Nicole Smith or "Supernatural," because that would not be an unusual occurrence, just for the record *G*). a_silver_rose found this article about an Illinois legislator trying to get gay marriage legalized in the Land of Lincoln. Her reaction to it was to be "floored" - mine was similar, but I pointed out I'd be REALLY surprised if it passes. Illinois is progressive, but I don't know if any part of the Midwest is THAT progressive (it'd be nice, wouldn't it?).

Then the_dala posted about something that pissed her off, some wacko conservatives' predictably pissy reactions to the issue of her college management possibly extending domestic partner benefits to gay employees in long-term relationships. I think this is a good idea, though I don't believe it goes far enough, because "domestic partners" in this case would not also extend to unmarried straight people. Personally, I think anyone who's been in a serious, living-together, committed romantic relationship for a certain length of time and has proven it by doing certain legal things (buying property jointly, owning joint assets, shared bank account, etc.) ought to have access to partner benefits through their job. (I'd say this even if gay marriage were legal - some of us just don't want to get married because of the legal nightmares involved. I've worked with divorce lawyers for five years, and it'll be a miracle on the order of parting the Red Sea if I EVER say "I do" after seeing all the crap that goes with the act of legally divvying up property and children.)

Comments

[yoiebear.livejournal.com]

Goodness do I wish Ohio/West Virginia were willing to move. Hell, West Virginians still tend to think of themselves as fighting the Civil War - on both sides. As long as I live in this area I will be stuck in the dark ages.

How's the new life going?

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Trust me, parts of eastern Tennessee aren't any better. They may be worse. It amazes me that the state I'm moving to borders Illinois, yet I am still in such very, very red territory. *G*

By "new life" you must mean Limboland. More than half of everything I own is in boxes and I'm really tired of packing, but I have more to do. AIIIEEEEEE.......

[yoiebear.livejournal.com]

I will admit that the area of West Virginia I work in is pretty progressive for this part of the U.S. I mean, they have a Democrat for mayor!

When are you moving?

[venusinchains.livejournal.com]

I hate to be so cynical (well, not really :-p), but I have lots and lots and lots of family in lower WV, so I know that folks in that area tend to be registered as Democrats in spite of being painfully conservative. (You may be talking about much further towards Ohio, I'm not sure.)

Few of them have jobs. They need the social service benefits the Democratic platform provides. If asked to vote on issues like "same sex marriage" or "abortion," I have no doubt my Democratic relatives would take the Republican route. :-/

[yoiebear.livejournal.com]

I work in Pakersburg, which is on the Ohio River and I live in Ohio. When I said that the people here tend to be progressive, I meant for the area of the country. The tristate area is pretty conservative. The people here are relatively liberal, considering. I still stand by the saying that a California Republican is the same as a West Virginia Democrat.

I know you're right as far as the same sex marriage and abortion issues. Heck, Ohio is that way, but, up until this year, it was a Republican state.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I'm leaving this coming Wednesday, which means I need to finish getting all my shit together. ARGH!

[yoiebear.livejournal.com]

If I don't hear from you before hand, have a safe trip!

[venusinchains.livejournal.com]

One of the few good things about my crappy job is the benefits - that come with only 20 hrs/wk and extend to domestic partners. As a consequence, nearly half my co-workers are gay. :)

[laitoste-17.livejournal.com]

We had a debate going on about that about this time last year here at UF. The resolution to extend benefits to domestic partners was passed, but only by something like a one or two person margin. Sigh.