Talking Points

Legal vs Religious Recognition

The recognition of same sex marriages is not a religious issue. Observation of marriages in the religious arena is decided separately by each faith and carries no legal standing. In fact, many religious faiths support and actually perform marriage ceremonies for same sex couples.
 

Family Matters

No state has fewer than 170 rights and responsibilities connected with legal marriage. It is the intent of many of these laws to provide support to the family at times of catastrophes or health crisis's when only the next of kin are allowed to make decisions. Under current law, no matter how long a same sex couple is together, they are legally considered strangers. Even with a power of attorney, same sex partners have been denied access or the authority to make decisions on behalf of each other, in favor of the blood relatives.

U.S. immigration laws do not recognize same sex couples. A married couple with a foreign national is able to quickly gain US citizenship for that person based solely on the legal status of married.
 

Financial Matters

The majority of employers extend benefits to the spouse and dependents of their employees. Medical and life insurance packages often include coverage for a spouse and dependents at a reduced cost. Retirement packages often address a surviving spouse in the event the employee passes away first. The surviving spouse is usually entitled to the full or partial benefit of the retirement package.

Same sex couples are denied all the benefits that are afforded to married couples but are forced to support them financially through taxation. Legal marriage is tied to over 1,000 benefits in the Federal system. Same sex couples do not benefit from social security survivor benefits, military spouse benefits. Our tax dollars are used to fund schools but we are continuously denied custody, fostering, and adoption of children.

This sort of discrimination has huge impacts on the well being of many families. As more and more Idahoans become aware that they have friends, family members & co-workers who are gay these unfair policies and practices will have to change.