Comments on: Ebbin Bill Would Legalize Unmarried Cohabitation in Va.

By: Sheri Werner Puryear

Sheri Werner Puryear — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 19:34:04 +0000

Unmarried couples in Virginia that are raising children together are within their constitutional rights to cohabitate together so says the Supreme Court of the United States (Lawrence vs. Texas 2003 ruling) and the Virginia Supreme Court (Martin vs. Ziherl 2005 ruling). Both of these landmark cases make it clear that it is unconstitutional for government to regulate relationships between two consenting adults in the privacy of their own home. A parent should not have their custody/visitation challenged in a court simply because of whom they choose to live with, especially when there is absolutely no evidence of harm being done to their children. The non-traditional family has become the traditional family. Here in Virginia, children are being raised by two dads, two moms, and in my case, a heterosexual couple. Decisions in child custody/visitation cases should not simply be based on the J&DR judge’s moral convictions, but rather what is in the best interest of the children. In his first Vatican press conference since his appointment as the Catholic Church’s “minister” for family, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia conceded that the numbers of non-traditional families are growing and there should be “private law solutions” to “prevent injustices and make their life easier.” While some Americans may still consider living together out of wedlock to be a sin, every American is within their constitutional rights to do so, so says the United States Constitution. Amen

By: Sheri Puryear

Sheri Puryear — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 19:32:56 +0000

After this story broke, my ex-husband went to the Hanover J&DR courts to file a motion seeking full custody based on the fact that I am living with someone whom I am not married to who is 55 years old (I’m 42). This is absolutely unconstitutional.
Unmarried couples in Virginia that are raising children together are within their constitutional rights to cohabitate together so says the Supreme Court of the United States (Lawrence vs. Texas 2003 ruling) and the Virginia Supreme Court (Martin vs. Ziherl 2005 ruling). Both of these landmark cases make it clear that it is unconstitutional for government to regulate relationships between two consenting adults in the privacy of their own home. A parent should not have their custody/visitation challenged in a court simply because of whom they choose to live with, especially when there is absolutely no evidence of harm being done to their children. The non-traditional family has become the traditional family. Here in Virginia, children are being raised by two dads, two moms, and in my case, a heterosexual couple. Decisions in child custody/visitation cases should not simply be based on the J&DR judge’s moral convictions, but rather what is in the best interest of the children. In his first Vatican press conference since his appointment as the Catholic Church’s “minister” for family, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia conceded that the numbers of non-traditional families are growing and there should be “private law solutions” to “prevent injustices and make their life easier.” While some Americans may still consider living together out of wedlock to be a sin, every American is within their constitutional rights to do so, so says the United States Constitution. Amen

By: Ricardo

Ricardo — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:32:52 +0000

@drax–

Agreed that both sides deserve some criticism. I was reacting to your comment that “conservatives want to take away our freedom”… I think both liberals and conservatives tend to want to do that.

I would like to opt out of the “insurance program” and keep the ~12% payroll deduction for myself, to spend in any way I see fit. Unfortunately I am not allowed to do so.

By: drax

drax — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:03:06 +0000

Ricardo, I’m not saying one side is always right. I’m disputing steve’s claim that one side is always right.

As for Social Security, it’s an insurance program, not a retirement plan. If you manage to live long, it will be there for you even if you spent all your money early expecting to die early instead of saving it up. That’s the point of it.

By: drax

drax — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:59:36 +0000

So you’re saying you’re NOT a conservative, Deadite?

Fine.

That’s my point. Labels are useless.

By: drax

drax — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:58:36 +0000

So you’re saying that liberals often are on the side of common sense, Deadite?

Okay, whatever.

This simply proves that throwing labels around is silly. Both sides shouldn’t do that.

By: The Wolfe

The Wolfe — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:06:38 +0000

@Deadite: “Sorry, d-rax, but I consider the government NOT inserting itself into the question of who can and cannot get married to be common sense. Placing selective bans and restrictions on such freedoms amounts to fascism.”

Ties back in the Loving case.

I have two friends, one white Christian and liberal; the other is African American, Christian, and tends towards the conservative side.

Both are good men and Christian in the good sense.

Both oppose gay marriage.

The white Christian supports civil unions but opposes a church ceremony. As I told him “if you don’t want gays to get married in your church, change churches”.

Heck, the National Cathedral announced it would perform same-sex ceremonies.

My African American friend opposes any form of same-sex union. Paraphrasing him, he cites the Levitical code. It’s an abominiation.

I’ve tried to engage him with the Loving case but no dice.

I got married on the beach in Key West, FL, by Captain Orrin Opperman, Notary Public. I pulled the license from the Key West Court House. No clergy were involved.

When I returned to work I added my wife to my medical insurance (so she could drop her coverage), quadrupled my life insurance and made her the beneficiary.

I see no reason why two consenting adults who choose to enter a contractual agreement should be discriminated against.

Both my Christian friends are for gun confiscation. I’m pretty certain neither has ever fired a weapon.

P.S. No longer married. Of course her first one didn’t last either.

By: The Wolfe

The Wolfe — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:25:42 +0000

Dear people. I graduated from T.C. Williams in June of 1975,

I went to Minnie Howard Middle School. I was supposed to graduate to T.C. after the 8th grade.

Instead court-ordered integration took place. This was 1971. Ya hear me troops?

Nineteen hunnert and sevenny one.

T.C. Williams was turned into a two year senior high. Frances C. Hamond and George Washington high schools, respectively white and black, were turned into junior high schools, freshman and sophomores only.

Heck, most of the *real* southern states already had integration of a sort. Which meant that the rich white folks put their kids into private schools.

Virginia/Richmond had a campaign of “massive resistance”. Google it.

Half of my friends from Minnie Howard middle got sent to Catholic schools to ride out the storm. Including some of Hebraic descent.

I’ve rocked this state north to south, east to west. You can find kindness, gentility, racism and sexism co-existing within a ZIP code.

In other words, Virginia is no different from any other place.

By: The Wolfe

The Wolfe — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:11:26 +0000

Gosh darnit, I thought the citation would show up in the body of the message.

http://www.sodomy.org/laws/virginia/

By: Deadite

Deadite — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 21:21:10 +0000

“This isn’t about labels, just issues.”

Says the guy who erroneously tries to paint me as a conservative. Get over yourself.