[Vision2020] HJR2 Will Establish Policy of Discrimination

[Tom Hansen]

>From today's (October 13, 2006) Moscow-Pullman Daily News with a very
special vote of thanks to Elizabeth Brandt -

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HER VIEW: HJR2 will establish policy of discrimination 

By Elizabeth Barker Brandt 
Friday, October 13, 2006

What is marriage? A religiously sanctified, spiritually-based relationship?
A personal commitment based on love? A legal status recognized by the state?
A convenient economic relationship? An indicator of family stability
beneficial for raising children? Marriage is all these things and more. It
is part of our public identity and yet it is personal and intimate. 

Idaho confers unique rights and benefits on all marriages. A marriage
performed by a judge is the same as a marriage performed by a religious
official. A marriage without children carries the same weight as a marriage
with many children. A fourth marriage is the same as a first marriage. A
marriage in which the spouses live apart is as important as a marriage in
which the spouses live together. 

Married persons may consent to health care for their spouse, may visit the
spouse in the hospital, and may access the spouse's medical and financial
records. Married people pay lower taxes by filing a joint tax return. Gifts
and inheritance from one spouse to the other are tax free. Spouses
automatically inherit property from each other unless they provide
otherwise. If a marriage breaks down, each spouse shares in the property
acquired during the marriage. Children of married parents are automatically
recognized as the children of both parents. The children can inherit from
both parents. If the marriage breaks up, both parents owe child support for
the children and both parents have rights to custody of the children. If a
couple is married in Idaho, their marriage is recognized no matter where
they travel or live. 

These rights and benefits are conferred by the government and cannot be
obtained through private agreements. Health care providers are not obligated
to honor durable powers of attorney for health care. Unmarried people
contract for employment benefits not offered by their employers. They cannot
qualify for tax benefits through private agreements. Unmarried persons must
take complicated steps to ensure that their children are treated as the
legitimate children of both parents. Finally, every time unmarried people
move to a new state, they must start over to legally secure their
relationship since there is no guarantee that the new state will approach
these issues in the manner the old state approached them. 

In November, Idaho voters will be asked to approve the following amendment
to Idaho's state constitution: "A marriage between a man and a woman is the
only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state."
This amendment will not change Idaho's law regarding gay marriage. But it
will have far-reaching effects. 

HJR2 will not "protect marriage." Idaho law already provides that marriage
must be between a man and a woman, that our state will not recognize
same-sex marriages performed in other states. 

Instead, HJR2 will take away the right of lesbian and gay residents of Idaho
to petition our Legislature and courts for changes in the law of marriage.
The amendment will establish a constitutional policy of discrimination
against lesbian and gay people. The amendment will establish a state policy
against non-marital relationships of all kinds - gay or straight. 

HJR2 will mean that same-sex couples cannot take adequate care of their
families, cannot enjoy the economic benefits the state makes available to
married persons, will not be protected from negative consequences when a
life partner dies or when their relationships break down. It means their
children will not be entitled to inheritance and may lose contact with
parents when relationships break up. It will authorize discrimination
against lesbian and gay Idahoans and against all unmarried couples in Idaho.


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You can read and download a copy of House Joint Resolution 2 at:
http://www.latahelection2006.com/HJR_2.htm

The question concerning whether or not the state of Idaho should or should
not amend its constitution to define a marriage was incorporated into the
Vision 2020 questionnaire at:
http://www.latahelection2006.com/

None of the respondents to the Vision 2020 candidates' questionnaire
expressed an opinion in favor of such an amendment.

Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom "Straight, but not narrow" Hansen
Vandalville, Idaho

"Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in
that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity,
their dignity and personhood,"

- Coretta Scott King (March 30, 1998)