GAY DIVORCEES: The Washington Post on same-sex divorces

Now that Massachusetts's top court has given the question of gay marriage an even more prominent place on the public agenda, it's time to talk about gay divorce. And let's not forget division of assets, child custody and all the other issues that arise when two people decide to dissolve a state-sanctioned relationship. ...

As the song says, "breaking up is hard to do." Without certain legal protections, it is even harder. Relationships may begin with attraction and love, but once they endure, they lead to the entanglements and complications of a shared life. As a family therapist who has counseled many couples, I can say that the need to guarantee fairness in financial matters (on issues such as health insurance and property rights, among others) provides one of the most compelling arguments for formal recognition of gay and lesbian partnerships.

These legal protections seem most important for homosexual couples who are raising children. When their relationships are going well, these couples have a family dynamic that many heterosexuals might envy. Research shows that they share child care, paid work and household decision-making much more equally than heterosexual couples. Lesbian parents may tell their children from an early age that biology doesn't matter, that they have two parents, that the non-biological mom has the same status as the biological one. Children in such homes often form strong attachments to both parents. As a result, these children may be especially vulnerable if the family dissolves.

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posted by Eve at 4:36 AM | link

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