July 22, 2004

ACE PRANK!

Lesbian couple in legal limbo as they seek to divorce (Gay Abbate, Globe and Mail, July 22nd, 2004)

After a quickie marriage, a lesbian couple was hoping for an equally fast divorce.

But the partners find themselves in a legal limbo. The federal government acknowledges that same-sex couples should be allowed to get divorced, but the divorce law still considers a married couple to be a man and a woman.

The Toronto couple is seeking Canada's first same-sex divorce since three provinces and one territory began to allow gays and lesbians to wed.

They had been in a relationship for almost 10 years when they tied the knot on June 18, 2003, a week after Ontario allowed same-sex marriages.

But their marriage lasted only five days.[...]

The stumbling block is the Divorce Act, which defines "spouse" as "of a man or woman who are married to each other." Although Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec and Yukon permit same-sex marriages, the federal government did not change the definition in the act.

OK, there is little doubt the feds or the courts will help these two sever the knot, but can anyone think of one good reason why the state should ever have had any role at all in their relationship, whether coming or going?

Posted by Peter Burnet at July 22, 2004 8:21 AM
Comments

They can always try here in Iowa of all places.

Posted by: Chris B at July 22, 2004 10:44 AM

One might ask the same of Ms. Spears first marriage.

Posted by: Jeff Guinn at July 22, 2004 11:58 AM

Maybe they can do a Klingon divorce, where one of them punches the other, spits on the ground, and bob's-your-uncle. All they need to do is convince a few people in power in whatever state they're in, and then the nice attorney-general can suddenly find a new right to Klingon divorce in the state constitution, and they're set!

Posted by: Just John at July 22, 2004 12:04 PM

In fact, I'd suggest that the state take it JUST AS SERIOUSLY AS THEY DO.

Which, in this case, means looking them in the eye and saying, "What marriage?"

Posted by: Arnold Williams at July 22, 2004 1:32 PM

Or they can do it the Islam way. One goes out in the street and hollars "I divorce thee three times" and it is done. Then duck, the stones are comming.

Posted by: Uncle Bill at July 22, 2004 4:12 PM

Uncle Bill: I'm pretty sure that's "I divorce thee" three times.

Posted by: David Cohen at July 22, 2004 5:56 PM

"I have said it thrice: What I tell you three times is true."

Posted by: Raoul Ortega at July 22, 2004 11:37 PM
« SEIZE OPPORTUNITY: | Main | YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET: »