Saturday, September 27, 2014

Divorce and the same sex couple

Stephanie Reynolds

Divorce and the unhappily married same sex couple.  They’ve tried everything to try and make it work.  Counseling, advice from friends and family but now they just want out.
In an article from the Christian Science Monitor, same sex couples not only have to fight for the right to marry but in some states that don’t recognize same sex marriages they have to fight for the right to divorce.  Apparently if you and your same sex spouse are married in a state that doesn’t recognize your marriage, and you chose to move to a state that does not, you may not be granted a divorce.  This problem can become very bothersome, time consuming and very expensive.
  
As noted in this article the couple in question has moved to Mississippi a state which doesn’t recognize same sex marriage and has a ban on same sex marriage.  They were married in California and now wish to divorce.  The couple has incurred a lot of expenses trying to get divorced, which most heterosexual couples do not.  Because the state won’t grant the divorce the have to travel to the state where the marriage took place.  Only to be informed that they have to be legal residents to have the divorce granted.  I don’t know about you but I just can’t pick up and move leave my job and everything I own just to get a divorce.  Czekala-Chatham states “why should I be treated differently, when there’s a courthouse right up the street.  I should be able to go there and get a divorce.”  I believe if your marriage is legal in one state, and you choose to divorce and have moved to another state, the same rights you had there should be upheld where ever you choose to live.


                                                                     Work cited

Crary, David, Associated press, Mohr, Holbrook, Associated press, “Same sex couples fight for right to divorce”, www.csmonitor.com, web.1 December 2013.

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