I have been with my boyfriend for over 5 years, we have two children and for our own reasons, do not wish to be legally married. I stay home with the kids and he works. We found out that the company he works for now offers partner benefits. When he went to sign me up, they told him, "I'm sorry this is for gay couples only"!!!!! You have got to be kidding me! Does anyone think that discrimination is happening to regular folks now?
2006-12-05 08:28:28 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
We are not on welfare, we use no assistance from the government what-so-ever. Although I'm sure that if I tried they would tell me that he makes too much money for me to get help. So I'm screwed either way. I think it is important for EVERYONE to have the same rights and benefits, married or not, gay or straight or curly or whatever!
2006-12-05 08:47:29 · update #1
thats not fair at all.
2006-12-05 08:32:30 · answer #1 · answered by oxygenO 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The guy above me is right. Gays can't marry, therefore there is NO way a gay couple could get benefits for each other (ON TOP of the fact they can't get married). The exception they are making for "gays" is to let THEM have the equal rights that married couples get. If they let bf/gf couples get benefits that way, then how will they keep ALL bf/gf couples from doing it? What would be the deciding factor for getting benefit coverage for someone? If you want the benefits of being married, you could get married. I'm sure if gays were giving the option of whether or not they could marry, a lot of the ones receiving the "partner benefits" wouldn't need it because they would be married.
I understand that you feel it's unfair, but you're only seeing YOUR side, you have to see the WHOLE picture.
2006-12-05 08:43:11 · answer #2 · answered by jennytkd13 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is fair. Partner's benefits exist because Marriage is not legal for gay couples. If it were, the company wouldn't be providing it, they would just be providing marriage benefits.
You two have obviously made a life together. It is not sensible for you two to remain unmarried. Marriage confers a lot of legal benefits, that do not exist otherwise. There can be tax benefits, inheritance benefits, medical benefits, medical directive benefits, etc.
Getting married can be a pain in the butt, but if you want to avoid all the hassles, just avoid the whole marriage extravaganza and get a quickie marriage in Nevada or just do a small ceremony.
2006-12-05 09:45:02 · answer #3 · answered by Uncle Pennybags 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Life is not fair, but this is really silly.
I suspect it'll be some time before things calm down, but as of now, with gay rights groups pushing for "gay marriage" I don't see any headway soon. A rational approach would be to allow anybody to designate anybody else as a beneficiary for such packages, thus alleviating your problem and allowing gay unions without calling those unions marriages (I have trouble with the nomenclature, since calling gay unions "marriages" would change the definition of marriage for traditional couples.) This would also allow people who care for disabled relatives, for instance, to have needed benefits, and the added cost to the employers would be minimal.
2006-12-05 08:49:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In only 5-8 more years (depending on your state) you will, in fact, be married thanks to the wonderful doctirne of "Common-Law Marriage," assuming you hold yourselves out as being married, live together, and share expenses.
Then you can get fullmarriage benefits without ever actually getting married!
2006-12-05 10:09:27 · answer #5 · answered by orzoff 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is fair. The reason they offer partner benefits is because gays can't marry. You can, so if you want those benefits, bet married. I'll bet that if gays were allowed to marry, they wouldn't be offering this program in the first place.
2006-12-05 08:33:17 · answer #6 · answered by Paul P 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It sounds like a company I know called Game Stop. They are providing benefits for gay couples and married couples. Doesn't sound great to me. Get married, you have already committed yourselves by having children together.
2006-12-05 08:31:12 · answer #7 · answered by Barbara 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Okay. I have NEVER ever heard of anything so ridiculous.
You should definitely be able to take advantage of this b/c it is CLEARLY discrimination. If you have a friend/family member in the legal profession, have them write a letter on letterhead and I'm sure it would be cleared up in NO time!
*shaking my head*
2006-12-05 08:31:55 · answer #8 · answered by D M 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not at all discrimination. You have a choice - you can get married. They cant. You choose not to. They have no choice.
Go register yourselves as Dosmestic Partners - the company will have to recognize that....
2006-12-05 08:37:06 · answer #9 · answered by YDoncha_Blowme 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes it is unfair, and I'm in a similar situation. What sucks is the gov't can and will just shrug and say "Well, just get married then."
I ain't got kids but I live with my girl so I know the feeling.
2006-12-05 08:30:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is not fair. Gays should have equal rights, but so should straits! This is ridiciolous.
2006-12-05 08:32:45 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋