Alternatives to Marriage Update:
February 1999

News From Around the World
Media Watch
Recent and Upcoming Workshops
Online
Chocolate-Covered Thank Yous

News from Around the World

Conservative Sociologists Release Report on Cohabitation
The National Marriage Project based at Rutgers University released a selective review of research about cohabitation. The report, which continues to generate large amounts of media attention, warns that unmarried couples are more likely to divorce, are less happy, and are more prone to domestic violence than married couples. Much of the research included in the study was significantly flawed. We see this report as part of a political backlash against the family diversity that exists today (see Media Watch, below, for more on our response to the report).


Federal Court Says Discrimination Is OK
A federal court in Oregon ruled that landlords *can* refuse to rent to unmarried couples if the landlord objects based on religious beliefs. The case has been appealed and will be re-heard. The case involved two landlords in Anchorage, Alaska, who refused to rent property to unmarried couples, citing their own religious beliefs. Many experts, including Los Angeles city attorney James Hahn, believe winning the case is important. Hahn said, "This ruling . . . would allow discrimination against unmarried couples, gay men, lesbians, people with AIDS, HIV and other disabilities. It opens the door to other forms of discrimination, which theoretically could be justified on religious grounds." If the case is upheld, it could weaken many anti-discrimination laws and policies. It would apply to the nine Western states in the Ninth Circuit, including California, Oregon, Alaska, and Washington.

Hawaii Considers Inclusive DP Benefits
A domestic partnership bill was introduced in the Hawaii Legislature this month. If passed, it would give same and opposite-sex couples the same benefits and protections currently available to spouses, dependents, and family members in Hawaii. The bill was supported by Thomas Coleman of the American Association for Single People and Patricia Ireland of the National Organization for Women. If adopted, this would be the first comprehensive domestic partner act to be enacted by any state in the country.

Arizona May Outlaw Domestic Partner Benefits
A bill proposed by Republican Rep. Karen Johnson would ban any Arizona municipality from extending insurance benefits to same or opposite sex unmarried partners. Cohabitation is currently illegal in Arizona, so Johnson argues that benefits would reward domestic partners for an illegal act. Currently, two Arizona jurisdiction offer DP benefits: Pima County and Tucson. The bill goes against the national trend: at least 70 local and county governments, 127 colleges and universities, and 475 businesses around the country offer the benefits.

France Continues to Debate PACS
Frances' proposed Civil Solidarity Pact survived a Parliament vote on whether the controversial bill -- which would extend a multitude of rights to same and opposite sex partners throughout France -- should be rejected outright. One opponent spoke against the bill for five hours during a marathon overnight debate. Now that the bill will not be immediately rejected, intense debate continues. At the end of January, tens of thousands of people marched through the streets of Paris to protest the bill. One article said that young people in France now joke, "Do you want to pacs with me?"

Illinois County Considers DP Benefits
Cook County, IL is considering offering domestic partner health benefits to same-sex partners of county employees. The ordinance would be similar to one passed in Chicago in 1997. Cook County commissioners waited until Pope John Paul II left St. Louis before announcing the proposal.

Florida County Adds Benefits
The Broward County Commission voted 6-1 to pass an ordinance that will provide health benefits for same and opposite sex domestic partners of county employees. The ordinance will allow couples to legally register with the county as domestic partners, affecting rights such as hospital and jail visitations. It will also give companies that provide such health benefits an advantage in bidding for county work. The commission, however, pulled back from its original plans to force major contractors to provide health benefits to domestic partners if they provide them to employees' spouses. Opponents have already filed a lawsuit.

Crackdown on Malaysian Unmarried Couples
Muslim couples married in the Malaysian capital will be issued cards with computer chips so Islamic police can verify their vows. Under Islamic law, unmarried couples can be charged with "khalwat" or "close proximity" if caught in a room together. Islamic police often raid rooms suspected of sheltering an unwed pair. Offenders can face up to two months in jail and a fine if convicted. A minister in the prime minister's department said the cards, which will replace marriage certificates as of Feb. 1, would come in handy if a couple were mistakenly caught in a police raid. One woman said she feared the cards would push Malaysia toward the conservative brand of Islam practiced in the Gulf Arab countries and Iran, where dating is a social taboo.

Prisoner Not Allowed To Marry
Pennsyvania Carbon County Prison inmate Edwin Mertz requested to get married, but weddings are not allowed in Lehigh County. Nearby counties do allow their prisoners to have simple marriage ceremonies, sometimes with the two spouses-to-be on either side of a sheet of glass. Some attorneys believe Mertz's civil rights are being violated.

Columbus, OH Repeals DP Benefits
The Columbus City Council, which passed a domestic partner ordinance in December, this month repealed the measure in response to strong opposition. Groups against the legislation recently gathered enough signatures to make it a ballot issue, and some Councilmembers feared the issue would divide the city. A defeat at the polls would have meant the issue couldn't come before Council again without another ballot initiative. Mayor Greg Lashutka said, "My heartfelt sympathy goes out to those employees who came to us and asked us to treat them like the majority of other citizens."

Republicans Consider Cutting IRS Marriage Penalty
A growing number of Republicans, with the support of some Democrats, are exploring ways to eliminate the "marriage penalty" that makes millions of two-income married couples pay more in taxes than if they were unmarried. If the change had been made in 1998, it would have cost roughly $28 billion over five years. Although it is less expensive for a married couple if one is the primary wage-earner, the majority of married couples have two incomes and pay more in taxes than they would if they were not married.

Media Watch

Our Radio and TV Appearances
Radio station WPRO in Providence, Rhode Island, had Dorian Solot on the air live last week to comment on the National Marriage Project's cohabitation report.

Dorian also appeared on The Russ Gorman Show, a half-hour interview show that will air this Sunday on Cox Cable in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. Times differ depending on where you live, so if you're in the area and want to watch, check your Cable TV listings.

Responding To Anti-Cohabitation Propaganda
We spent a lot of time over the last two weeks responding to the National Marriage Project's report on cohabitation. We faxed, e-mailed, and mailed a press release that condemned the report to about 100 national media, and sent letters to the editor to any media we were aware ran a story about the report.
We were thrilled that several reporters e-mailed us with positive responses after receiving our information. E-mail us if you'd like a copy of our press release or letters to the editor.

Recent Workshops

New Jersey We presented our "Happiness Without Wedding Bells: Considering Alternatives to Marriage" workshop at the Tri-State (NY/NJ/CT) Regional Bisexual Conference in New Brunswick, NJ.
We learn something new from each audience we talk to, and each audience has its own particular interests. Last weekend legal issues came up again and again, and there was some disagreement about whether domestic partner benefits actually help or hurt our cause (since they still exclude some relationships and link benefits to being in a relationship).

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.

Online

ATMP-Talk
If you would like to subscribe to our low-volume online discussion and announcement list, ATMP-talk, send us an e-mail requesting that we add you to the list. If you would prefer to subscribe to the list in weekly digest form (only one message per week), let us know.

Things to Discuss?
Both discussion and announcements are welcome on ATMP-Talk, as long as they are related to marriage, unmarried people, and similar topics. The list currently has over 150 subscribers.

Bookstore

We are now selling two excellent legal guides for people of all sexual orientations:

The Living Together Kit: A Legal Guide for Unmarried Couples
by Attorneys Toni Ihara and Ralph Warner
This user-friendly book, written by two attorneys who lived together as an unmarried couple for 19 years, is the best legal guide we've seen on this subject. It contains chapters on renting and buying a home, parenting issues, wills and estate planning, and sample living together agreements for a variety of situations. We use our copy all the time. $24.95

A Legal Guide for Lesbian and Gay Couples
by Attorneys Hayden Curry, Denis Clifford, and Robin Leonard
This book is an in-depth, accessible guide to protecting yourself as a same-sex couple. It includes information on medical emergencies, financial matters, parenting, wills, buying a home, and sample contracts for your relationship. $24.95

To order either book, tell us which one and how many copies you'd like, and send us a check payable to ATMP. The shipping is free. Sorry, we do not accept credit cards at this time. Mail payment with your mailing address to: ATMP, P.O. Box 991010, Boston, MA 02199.

Chocolate-Covered Thank Yous

We received our first grant, $1500 from the Haymarket People's Fund! Haymarket is a progressive New England foundation -- with great priorities, don't you think?

We send sincere thanks, too, to all of you who made donations as part of our recent fundraising drive -- so far we have received $780. Thanks to Lydia Breckon and Duncan Smith, Tom Coleman, Amber Crabbe, Abe Doherty, Chris Fariello, Amy Glesius and Roger Buelow, Dave Goss and Ulla Figwer, Elmy Martinez, Becky Pierce and Arthur Prokosch, Tanya Settle, Goldie and Les Solot, Arthur Warner, Alice Yew, and anonymous donors.

It's not too late to make a donation! Make out your check to ATMP and mail it to P.O. Box 991010, Boston, MA 02199. Your support helps ATMP create a society in which diverse relationships are supported and valued.