Comment on Gary Studds' partner

[Turbineguy]

A friend called me and asked me if I knew about "this Gary Studds guy" (yes, I read DU). He mentioned that Gary Studds partner will not receive any benefits (as in "this is a good thing").

I suggested that the number of gay marriages is so low anyway that it would hardly make a difference to pay out the benefits.

As I recall there was something in the 2000 census that 445,000 gay couples lived in a long term relationship. OK, presumably these people would be candidates for marriage or domestic unions or what ever you want to call it.

But with all the hoopla about gay marriage I am curious just how many gay people actually got married when the door was open in Massachusetts and San Francisco.

The news showed long lines of people applying for licenses. This was suggestive that there were thousands, if not millions of gay people getting married. But if the License Clerk was able to process one application every 15 minutes, it would take 4 days to take care of 100 couples. That's a long time to be standing in line. But it's hardly a lot of people. And it's hardly a drain on the system.

I do not recall seeing any actual numbers. There were only the occasional high profile person in a photo.

I think this whole gay marriage thing is blown out of proportion in terms of numbers and impact.

Anybody got any stats for me?

[rinsd]

1. Here's the article

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15314130/

[dsc]

2. and remember

Newt's third wife will get her full pension. Barr's third wife will get her full pension. Homewrecker Hyde will get his full pension as will his stolen wife.

[freethought]

3. I don't have any stats but I have read

that when the Mass. Supreme Court made gay marriage legal there was a flurry of license applications by gay/lesbian couples. Possibly a few thousand couples. This flurry was relatively brief not going on beyond a few weeks and it died off shortly thereafter. Those couples who wanted to get married, did just that.

If you want to hear something ironic, one of parties involved in brining that case to the Mass. supreme court, a lesbian couple, have filed for divorce after 18 months or so. These two women now have to hire lawyers and go through the same grinding process that any heterosexual couple would have to go through. Just another market for lawyers to make money now.

There really isn't much support in Mass. for altering the court's decision. A few church and religious groups are still making hay. For the most part the rest of the public has moved on and don't give it much attention to it anymore.

[Divernan]

4. Don't forget Vermont. I went to a terrific gay wedding there last summer.

nt