Gay Marriage until...a break up. Why Gays need to walk the walk.

[dark_crystal]

Originally Posted by SuperFemme

I don't know if anyone has been following the break up of Melissa Etheridege and Tammy Lynn Michaels.

I don't care about the gossip or the personal issues.

I AM upset that Melissa Etheridge has always been a vocal proponent of Gay Marriage, and now that it is time for her to end hers? She wants to circumvent the privileges afforded with that.

She kicked her wife out, who is now penniless. She filed a motion in court not to have to pay spousal support. To the woman who quit her career so that Melissa could tour, and she could be home with the kids from a previous relationship. Then her wife gave birth to twins. Nursed her through cancer...

The had a wedding, but a domestic partnership, not a "marriage" in that window of time we were able to here in CA.

How seriously are people going to take us when something like this happens?

Does anyone have any feelings on the potential impact? Or is there potential impact?

Tammy Lynn Michaels filed for a Divorce, a political stance because to her, what the had was a marriage.

The whole thing has been making me think, because of how hard we have fought for our rights. How can that be a thing of convenience?

this kind of argument came up when Masschessett's first gay divorce came up a few years back...technically we should not be held to a higher commitment standard than straight people are, and should not have to consider the political repercussions of our every relationship move any more than anybody else does, but i agree that the spotlight is on us to show we "deserve" (as if anyone does) the "special" rights we are asking for. So yes, the media and straight America will hold us to a higher standard.

i have to say, personally, i am very disappointed in this behavior from Melissa. I would have liked to have seen her take the same stance as Tammy. However, i am sure there is a lot we don't know about what is really going on.

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by dark_crystal

this kind of argument came up when Masschessett's first gay divorce came up a few years back...technically we should not be held to a higher commitment standard than straight people are, and should not have to consider the political repercussions of our every relationship move any more than anybody else does, but i agree that the spotlight is on us to show we "deserve" (as if anyone does) the "special" rights we are asking for. So yes, the media and straight America will hold us to a higher standard.

I have to agree, here.

i have to say, personally, i am very disappointed in this behavior from Melissa. I would have liked to have seen her take the same stance as Tammy. However, i am sure there is a lot we don't know about what is really going on.

I don't really want to know the personal aspects of their marriage and divorce, but what I think is that Etheridge, unfortunately, is displaying what many people do in a divorce.... being a jerk. Has not one thing to do with this being a same-sex marriage or domestic partnership. It is the human element of ugliness that can come out during a divorce. There have ben many times I have seen this by people I never would have thought could be so ugly.

I hope it calms down and they just think about the kids involved (not up on them, so do not know the ages of their children).