Gay Marriage -- and Divorce
by Susan Estrich
"Today is a great day not only for every lesbian and gay couple who wants to get married, but for every Californian who believes in fairness and equal opportunity for all," said Judy Appel, executive director of Our Family Coalition, a group that advocates for same-sex couples with children, in response to the California Supreme Court majority's refusal to delay its ruling on gay marriage. As a result of that refusal, California counties have until June 17 to start issuing marriage ...
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Posted by: john logan
Comment: #1
Fri Jun 6, 2008 10:54 AM
Susan,
I read your article and found it very true in many respects. However, you wrote "No one sells divorce insurance because no one would buy it, and you couldn't make much money selling it even if they did. You'd have to pay off too often. "
Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions about the market of insurance on a marriage. In fact, although it's not available just yet, real marriage insurance is right around the corner. You can find out more at www.safeguardguaranty.com.
John Logan
CEO
SafeGuard Guaranty Corporation
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Posted by: diane
Comment: #2
Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:56 PM
It personally sickens me to know voters and legislators are more interested in banning same sex marriages among consenting adults than in banning people like Jon Marc Carr (who married both a 13 and a 15-year-old before becoming a suspect in the Jon Benet Ramsey murder) from marring children. Even if studies were to show the majority of marriages involving minors remained happy and stable, it is exploitative to have minors enter into legal contracts with partners who could potentially be violent or criminal.
In our modern times, it makes no sense for a minor to marry. And for any state to allow or even recognize the marriages of children is an offense to the institution. Even pregnancy -- not exactly proof of maturity in a minor -- is no reason to marry before the age of 18. Allowing pregnant children to do so creates more problems than it solves. While not all marriages involving minors are unsuccessful, if a young couple is destined for a long, healthy marriage, they should be able to wait until both are adults.
In my personal life, I have known several people who married as children and it appeared the marriages that did not involve domestic violence were more the exception than the rule. As a caseworker who serves public aid applicants, it appears such marriages do not benefit the young couple or their children. The only individuals who come out ahead when a minor marries are the parents who found a legal way to shrug off their parental responsibilities to their teen.
Furthermore, if even one state agrees to allow pregnant minors to wed, some minors may become pregnant deliberately hoping their parents will allow them to marry.
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