Has anyone here reached a point in the relationship where they have decided to legally commit? I know we can't marry, but do any of you have wills, power of attorney, advance directives, or other documents? I'm not sure at what point in the relationship it is appropriate to commit to that degree, but my partner and I have begun discussing it. I don't have any gay friends with such documents, so I thought I'd check on here. Anyone?
2006-10-29 09:55:08 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Thanks for your answer, but in most states employers CAN discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. Can and do.
2006-10-29 10:00:53 · update #1
Yes, my partner and I have all of the above.
We decided to do this when death touched our families. We realized we were already in a committed relationship and needed to legally protect our family.
There are some helpful books and websites:
(Partners Task Force for Gay & Lesbian couples)
http://www.buddybuddy.com/partners.html
has a great link on their site for "legal necessities" that I highly recommend!
Yes, you are right, in SOME states employers can still discriminate based on sexuality or even Percieved sexual identity, but not all. My state JUST passed and put into practice laws which prohibit this, but not all states have these protections.
Also, just because you have power of attorney, legal directives and living wills, does NOT mean these protect you from family interference or family members contesting these documents in court.
BUT, the more legal protections you have, the more property you jointly own, the longer you're together and the more mutual friends you have that also know your joint intentions can help protect you if family members do attempt to contest these documents.
2006-10-29 10:32:11 · answer #1 · answered by DEATH 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We had been planning on doing it a long time before we actually did it. What made us plan our wills was that we were about to go travelling overseas. It is definately wise to have a will etc because that way your partner can have the power should something happen to you. The fact that you are discussing it is a good sign.
We have always said to each other that if we ever died certain things would go to our parents/family and the rest would stay with the partner. There are some family heirlooms that would definately go straight back to my family.
In regards to the will I have made my partner the Power of Attorney so that if anything does happen to me she can use her power. We have one joint bank account so if the other banks do not realise she is my partner then everything can be dealt with in that account. Just making her power of attorney made my family see that we were for real and that she would take over if something ever happened to me.
2006-10-29 16:30:34 · answer #2 · answered by gretphemelger 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't have them but I am hoping for the day when everyone, regardless of sexual preference, has equal protection under the law and can enjoy the same freedoms. In my experience straight people care more about gays sexual preference than the gays themselves do. We all just want to be treated the same. No better, no worse. Employers aren't allow to discriminate based on sexual preference so I don't understand why we don't have an Equal Opportunity government also. Best wishes to everyone.
2006-10-29 09:59:14 · answer #3 · answered by IMHO 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Since you are discussing it with your partner, you have naturally arrived at that point. If you live together or own any joint property, it definitely needs to be done. If something happens to one of you, the other could be denied hospital visitation since you are not legally family and if one of you dies without a will their possessions would go to their closest surviving relative.
2006-10-29 10:10:17 · answer #4 · answered by χριστοφορος ▽ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋