Alternatives to Marriage Update:
December 1998

In this issue:
News From Around the World
Media Watch
Statistics
Online
Recent and Upcoming Workshops
Wish List
Fundraising 

News From Around the World

Canada Considers Abolishing "Illegitimate" Category
Proposed legislation in Canada would remove the words "illegitimate child" (defining children born to unmarried parents) from federal laws. Priti Shah, a Winnipeg lawyer and chairwoman of the Canadian Bar Associations standing committee on equality, says the implications of the change would be more symbolic than legal. [Note: According to the _Living Together Kit_, in the United States most states and the federal government have moved away from using the words "illegitimate." At least 18 states have passed the Uniform Parentage Act, which says that the parent-child relationship is equal for all children and parents, regardless of the parents' marital status.


Netherlands Expands Options
The Dutch government has cleared the way for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples to be able to choose either legal marriage or "registered partnership." Although all couples had already been eligible to register as partners, the option of civil marriage for same-sex couples was only added this month. This is a trend-setting step toward acceptance of family diversity.


France Moves Toward Inclusive Domestic Partnership
The French Assembly has agreed on a draft of the hotly-debated Civil Solidarity Pact (PACS) bill, which would extend legal rights to same or opposite-sex couples over who live together. Registering would affect couples' inheritance rights, tax returns, housing, and social welfare rights. The bill still has to gain Senate approval.

Oregon Requires Same-Sex Recognition
An Oregon court recently said that government is constitutionally required to treat same-sex couples equally. The decision will require all public agencies in the state to provide benefits to domestic partners. It also suggests that any time the state extends a special privilege to a married couple, it should provide the same privilege to same-sex couples.

Boston Judges Rules Against Domestic Partner Benefits
Although Boston only adopted domestic partner benefits for same and opposite sex partners of city employees this summer, a judge has already ruled against the plan. Resulting from a lawsuit brought by members and supporters of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, the ruling says that the domestic partner plan violates state law by going beyond the state's legal definition of the word ``dependent.'' Mayor Thomas Menino promised to appeal the ruling and keep benefits in place for now.

Media Watch

Swing
The Dec. 98/Jan. 99 issue of Swing magazine included a great one-page first-person article in it about one man's (and his partner's) experience choosing not to get married.

Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times recently ran a fairly positive article about people living together without marriage, though it included some negative and misleading quotes from the "experts." E-mail us if you'd to read the full text.

Statistics

Fun Facts (contact us if you'd like citations for these)

Cohabiting couples do household tasks less based on gender than married couples.

Male cohabitors spend more time on housework than single or married men. Female cohabitors spend less time on housework than married women.

On average, cohabiting people expect to have fewer children than married people.

Women who value financial and career success are more likely to cohabit instead of marrying without living together.

Cohabitors are less likely than married people to disapprove of divorce.

Online

We're Recruiting
More people learn about ATMP through our web page than any other way. If you have a web page, please add a link to us to help spread the word! The URL is http://www.netspace.org/atmp.

Web Additions
Our web page is currently sporting several new sections, including Frequently Asked Questions, quotes about marriage, and archives of our monthly announcements. Let us know what you think! Also, we are still in search of artist/graphic design/logo design gurus who can help us make the page more aesthetically pleasing with artistic images.

Upcoming and Recent Workshops

Upcoming: Rhode Island
On Saturday, January 9th from 2-4 p.m., we will be holding a community forum at the Rochambeau Library, 708 Hope Street on the East Side of Providence. The forum, entitled "Happiness Without Wedding Bells: Considering Alternatives to Marriage," is free and open to the public. Contact us for directions to the library!

Upcoming: New Jersey/New York/Connecticut
We will be presenting our "Happiness Without Wedding Bells: Considering Alternatives to Marriage" workshop at the Tri-State Regional Bisexual Conference. The conference will take place 5-7, 1999, in New Brunswick, NJ on Douglass College campus at Rutgers University. For more information, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , voicemail (732) 246-3769, or visit http://www.biconf.org .

The Future
It's always wonderful to continue the conversation about the issues facing unmarried people with different groups around the country. We would love to speak in your city or at an upcoming conference you know about! E-mail or call us to discuss the possibilities.

Wish List

We would love donations of:
A Macintosh computer (with monitor, keyboard and mouse) capable of running Word 6.0.
Logo designer/graphic designer/artist to help with logo and/or web page images
Money (see below!)

Fundraising

ATMP will begin our first official fundraising drive next month. Many thanks to Ulla Figwer and David Goss for their generous donation to ATMP. Dave and Ulla's gift kicked off the upcoming drive. Details about the drive will make their way to your mailbox (electronic or postal) in January. Thanks! stay-in-touch.html