Is the UK that bad?

I just wanted to to refer back to the thread about no federal laws for gays rights. Here is the big difference in the US verses the UK. States here have a certain level of sovereignty. This is why the civil war happened. States can make their own laws, and there is battle with Federal Rule over states rights. Right now, the federal government makes it illegal to sell and grow marijuana. However, several no have medical marijuana laws, and the3 Feds frequently interefere with what the sate has sanctioned as legal. These issuses will not be settled until and if the supreme court finds them legal, or illegal...it is a long process, and may take decades to sort out.

Generallly, the Fed verses  States rights are this: The states may give it's people MORE fredoms and rights than the federal government does, but may NOT give them LESS. Not until the constitutionality of discrimination of marriage rights can be elucidated, probably by the Supreme Court, will there be a federal "class" of gays, lesbians and trans people that are considered a "suspect" class, meaning any discrimination toward them is probably wrong, and all states and the federal government must respect the rights of gays and lesbians etc to marry, and have those unions recognized and all the rights, thereof bestowed up on them. The legal thinking is that when similarly situated persons are treated differently under the law, they are being unduly burdened by the exclusions of the law, and a remedy must be found. However, the courts have only found a "rational" basis for review of rights for same sex couples, which means they only need a rational reason why they are putting up the barrier to federal rights for gays and lesbians. I hope that makes sense....The UK Parliment makes laws for the entire UK, but here, mostly it is individual states that start the porcess, and then people in other states must petition their state to recognize what is sonctioned in the originating state. I could say more, but my fee is $250 an hour. LOL

That was a very good, very informative post - you deserve the $250 an hour!

My husband says I can call ALL of the UK by the title of "England" - but he said for me not to tell anyone he said that, because he does not want to get his ass kicked.

I'm tattling on him, because he DID NOT PUT THE LOO PAPER ON THE ROLL HOLDER - AGAIN!!!!!

ATTACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This made me giggle! Sounds like our husbands could be related. Mine just took off the old roll, put the new one next to it and then put the holder on without the TP. how does that work?!
My DH is also ok with calling the whole of the UK 'England' because "it's the only part that matters". Sounds like he is ready to get his American citizenship

And then the English wonder why nobody else likes them.   

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Well, Britain wasn't "Great" until they added Scotland, sooooo...  

That was awesome information, lawyerwoman.  We are going to spend a few days in New York visiting my family before heading to the UK, and my partner said after NY passed the law that we should get married while we're there. We currently live in Texas, which will never pass any gay marriage/civil union laws.

Well, Britain wasn't "Great" until they added Scotland, sooooo...  

Love it!

Love it!

I think my DF would agree.  I can't even get him to go to Scotland with me!  And I really love traveling in Scotland as well!

@jb...Goood for you!  But know that if you decide to divorce later, you may have to file in New York, which may not allow you to file if you are not a resident therein. You may be caught in a legal black hole, and your property settlement will NOT be honored by Texas, nor will your custody rights for children, and you can't enforce maintenance(alimony) or child support in Texas. Texas can no longer prosecute sodomy, because the Lawrence v. Texas ruling by the supreme court found it unconstitutional...so if you are getting married, for me it would be a political statement and I would challenge Texas in court to recognize my legal marriage. This would require working with Legal organizations like the National Lesbian and Gay TasKforce, National center for Lesbian Rights or other legal non-profit who fight cases just so national policy can be changed. But, there is no guarrantee they will take a case unless they are sure they can make change and not have a ruling against us....because that would make things worse.  And to all, I apologize for my typos above, I get excited and hit send before I proof read, frequently. Bottom line is you should consult a Texas Lawyer AND a New York Lawyer who specialize in family law before you get married. It may be as simple as some emails sent. You will still need civil legal documents such as power of attorney and a will etc to protect yourself in Texas and while travelling in case one of you fgets ill, or in case there are children to be considered.

RI passed a civil unionship law yesterday and the governor said he would sign it next week.  Woo-hoo.

I know! That is sooooooooo awesome!!!!!

And, look at this:

http://gothamist.com/2011/06/30/feds_cancel_deportation_of_immigran.php

@jb...Goood for you!  But know that if you decide to divorce later, you may have to file in New York, which may not allow you to file if you are not a resident therein. You may be caught in a legal black hole, and your property settlement will NOT be honored by Texas, nor will your custody rights for children, and you can't enforce maintenance(alimony) or child support in Texas. Texas can no longer prosecute sodomy, because the Lawrence v. Texas ruling by the supreme court found it unconstitutional...so if you are getting married, for me it would be a political statement and I would challenge Texas in court to recognize my legal marriage. This would require working with Legal organizations like the National Lesbian and Gay TasKforce, National center for Lesbian Rights or other legal non-profit who fight cases just so national policy can be changed. But, there is no guarrantee they will take a case unless they are sure they can make change and not have a ruling against us....because that would make things worse.  And to all, I apologize for my typos above, I get excited and hit send before I proof read, frequently. Bottom line is you should consult a Texas Lawyer AND a New York Lawyer who specialize in family law before you get married. It may be as simple as some emails sent. You will still need civil legal documents such as power of attorney and a will etc to protect yourself in Texas and while travelling in case one of you fgets ill, or in case there are children to be considered.

Thanks for the advice, lawyerwoman. It was really my partner and my mom that liked the idea of us getting married while we're in New York more than I do. I don't plan on us ever living in Texas, but I also doubt we'd end up in New York permanently ever either, so doing something official there seems kind of pointless to me.