While the New York State Senate was unable (unwilling?) to pass a same-sex marriage law, this week it passed a bill OK-ing no-fault divorce, which lets heterosexual couples dissolve their legal unions without drawn out legal battles, or come up with excuses for more instantaneous divorces, like adultery or psychological cruelty. New York is the last state in America to adopt the practice. “What the fault divorce system has done is that it has institutionalized perjury,” says a Manhattan divorce attorney, who argues that without no-fault divorce, straight couples often lie in New York’s divorce courts just to swiftly end their marriage. (There are also divorce attorneys, like Liza Minnelli’s, who think no-fault divorce is a terrible idea.) And while a little big of anger tends to reach the upper extremities of my torso in learning that New York’s Democratic state senators — in a 32-29 vote — have no problem making traditional marriages (the institution so worth protecting!) easier to end while still denying gay couples the right to even try it out, there is an upside.
Passage of the legislation is a lawmaker-approved designation that marriage really is just a contract between two consenting adults. The next logic step: No court has ruled sexual orientation precludes a competent adult from entering into, or dissolving a contract with another person. So if marriages can be ended “just ’cause,” without either party admitting fault, then they really are just a piece of paper, aren’t they?
At least Sen. Ruben Diaz, the Democrat who campaigned against same-sex marriage, stuck to his guns and voted against legalizing no-fault divorce — but voted for some of its parts. Would hate to have the call the guy, who has two gay brothers, a hypocrite.
Greg Theron
Easy as getting out of a cell phone contract? Uhm hello! Theres an early termination fee! Which is quite pricey.
Michael
You’re taking this way out of context. People divorce for many reasons. Infidelity is one, boredom is another. Fault, no-fault, it really doesn’t matter, because, in the end, you’ll wind up just as divorced. Removing “grounds” as a necessity for divorce simply get’s you to the most important part of the ceremony – property settlement, where fault is likewise not a consideration, unless property involves children.
L.
@Greg Theron: Here too, except they call it “alimony”.
jason
What a repulsive set of people these Democrats are!! They think we gays shouldn’t be allowed to enter into a civil marriage on the basis that marriage is a “precious heterosexual institution” and yet here they are facilitating its dissolution.
This is one reason why I won’t vote for a Democrat ever again.
Robert in NYC
Marriage has always been a contract if you look at its genesis. Love never came into it until recent history and procreation was never the primary reason either until the religious cults got their dirty hands on it and changed it to suit their agenda.
As far as never voting for another democrat Jason, I’m only voting for progressives in my state. At the national level this does not include Obama who has more in common with republicans on marriage equality than with the majority of his party. He’s totally out of touch on that one and believes that sexual apartheid under the guise of civil unions at the federal level is equality. I don’t think Dr. M.L. King, if he were alive today would concur.
Robert in NYC
Marriage has always been a contract if you look at its genesis. Love never came into it until recent history and procreation was never the primary reason either until the religious cults got their dirty hands on it and changed it to suit their agenda.
As far as never voting for another democrat Jason, I’m only voting for progressives in my state. At the national level this does not include Obama who has more in common with republicans on marriage equality than with the majority of his party. He’s totally out of touch on that one and believes that sexual apartheid under the guise of civil unions at the federal level is equality. I don’t think Dr. M.L. King, if he were alive today would concur. Obama has learned nothing of the civil rights movement and in fact is proof that devolution exists.
Brutus
Alternative headline:
New York Senate moves closer to making marriage a simple contract between consenting parties.
This isn’t a slap in the face. This is good for us. This gives us more leverage.
S
@Michael: As one who has seen couples divorce in New York and in other states, there is a difference. No fault makes the process a LOT faster and less expensive.
Queer Supremacist
@jason: If you need any more reasons not to vote for Democrats, learn as much as you can about American history and current events.
At least Communists are honest about their intentions.