Thoughts & stories from real life regarding the marriage discussion.
Let me first clarify that I am for an absolute separation of church and state. Marriage laws are convoluted. They do not serve parties equally in all states nor in all situations. (soapbox from Law school days as well as after 10 years of marriage then divorced in TX, a community property state when I inherited his debts!) The "right" to marry discussion of yesterday provides many valid points. People should have the "right" to form a union in their own way, with the government or not and certainly should not be discriminated against regardless of who they choose or do not choose to marry (remain single).
What has been left out of this discussion-----
Please recall that when our country was founded, women had very little if any rights even if they had their own money. We could not own property in most states of the union. We were in fact property! In some ways, sadly little has changed. Further, there are still a group of "sisters" who misappropriate power and those who do not stand up to use it claiming "victimization" etc. As we know, laws have been cobbled together since creation and the meaning let alone definition of marriage has been construed to all types of unions continuing to evolve with the individuals for the ages.
Tempting discussions----
But what is the likelihood that we can reinvent the system from the beginning let alone change society moreso than one on one a person and generation at a time? I feel there is still a need to provide baseline laws from organization to protections.
Best,
A woman holding auditions for "husband/life partner" ala' Land lease in perpetuity 