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Posted on August 8, 2009 by Peacetalks | Posted under Divorce
How Mediation can Support Gay Marriage in our Culture
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We have come a long way in talking About Peace Talksand embracing and celebrating homosexuality in our culture. LGBT peopleare fighting for their right to marry the way others have fought tovote. As more and more same sex couples Mediation are filing fordomestic partnership, they are “coming out” to the public. Unlikecoming out to friends and family, this form of coming out is morepublic and can impact your professional life, as our sexuality suddenlybecomes the business of business Resourcesassociates such as bankers, lawyers, real estate brokers, doctors andinsurance agents . For some of these professionals, same sex unions maybe uncharted territory. There is a learning process going on between these professions and thesame sex couple who have a new sense of legitimacy and confidence withthe law behind them. Also to be considered is that it is difficult for a heterosexual personto really feel the seriousness of the coming out process. Whileheterosexuals may be sympathetic and empathetic, without having had theexperience of being discriminated against based on their sexuality itmay be hard for them to fully grasp the experience. This is what samesex couples have wanted for so long – the legal ability to refer totheir partner as husband or wife, and yet there is an adjustment periodto go through as the practical aspects of gay unions enter this legalsystem to which LGBT couples recently gained access. Depending on where you are in your coming out and whether you are in aserious relationship, it is important for you to understand therealities of a gay lifestyle in terms of your legal rights for a unionin a love relationship. For more information on the difference betweengay marriage and a domestic partnership, click herewww.peace-talks.com/samesexcomp.php. Even if you feel whisked away happily ever after by your significant other, the truth is there are certain requirements you must meet for a domestic partnership in California: •You must live together (but you both don’t have to be on the lease) •You cannot be married of in another domestic partnership •You and your significant other cannot be related by blood •You both must be 18 •You are both capable of consenting to being in a domestic partnership There is California domestic partnership law which governs each of the following areas: •Becoming domestic partners •Property •Parenting right •Estate planning and probate •Criminal law •Termination of domestic partnership Along with knowing the law, it is important for professionals whofacilitate same sex unions to be aware of the social and personalimplications of domestic partnerships. When you choose a mediator, makesure that he or she is specifically trained in same sex couples issuesand is sensitive to the nuances in these relationships. Coming Out Another aspect of declaring domestic partnership is that couples reallycome out to the entire community, not just friends, family and theirimmediate sphere of influence. This is a sensitive issue to address andmay require some adjustment on the part of everyone involved. Bepatient with each other. The more informed you are of your rights andconfident in what you are doing to validate your love relationship inevery way possible, the more serene you can be in the face of today’schallenges. The key is to be aware and have the help of a mediator who knows yourrights and responsibilities so you can get the most out of your samesex relationship and enjoy the joy of your commitment. For moreinformation on mediation for same sex couples seehttp://www.peace-talks.com/samesex.php. About The Author: Peace talks is a Los Angeles family law mediation firm offering services including divorce mediation, Parenting Plan Mediation, Premarital Mediation in Los Angeles, Playa Del Ray areas. |
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