History being made in Washington....

[Hisbabydoll]

There was about 100 people earlier this week at the end of my block some supporting and some protesting this.

IMO I love it. I have a few family members who are gay and My best friend is a lesbian. She has been with her partner since she was 16 she is now 24 they have 3 kids and i am so glad things will be changing. It is about time

[ash]

Originally Posted by jennypage That's awesome, I'm so glad that if (god forbid) anything happened, they'd be able to be there for each other and recognized by the hospitals as family, etc.... It's such a good law, I'm so happy it passed.

The hospital thing is the biggest thing to me. Esp. because many homosexuals are not accepted by their parents but DO have a loving partner. I don't like thinking that a parent would be called upon to make life changing medical decisions in place of someone who loves that person most.

Frankly, I think we should have unions across the board and you can be in one with only one person at a time. This would allow partners, besties, etc. to make sure they are looked after by the person who loves them most. Families do not always no best and we live in a society where many are not close to their legal next of kin.

[Fancyface]

In regard to partners and hospitals and medical decisions...people can give ANYONE a medical power of attorney that overrules any kinship. If you are homosexual (then you probably already know this), you can prepare a medical power of attorney giving your partner the right to make medical decisions on your behalf regardless of whether or not you are, or can be, "married." Just in case there's anyone here that needs that information.

[Birdy]

Originally Posted by Fancyface In regard to partners and hospitals and medical decisions...people can give ANYONE a medical power of attorney that overrules any kinship. If you are homosexual (then you probably already know this), you can prepare a medical power of attorney giving your partner the right to make medical decisions on your behalf regardless of whether or not you are, or can be, "married." Just in case there's anyone here that needs that information.

I didn't know that, although I guess it make sense.

I saw on the news once a story about a teenage girl who had two moms; her dad had abandoned her as a baby. One of her moms was from Chile (if I'm remembering it right). Her biological mom came down with cancer and had only a few months to live. Because her moms couldn't get legally married, the woman from Chile couldn't get citizenship, and because of some funky laws couldn't adopt her daughter in her own country. Long story short, when the biological mom died, the girl had to go into foster care, even though she had a loving parent who would have taken care of her. I'm not the most emotional of people, but it made me tear up pretty bad.

[Fancyface]

Yeah, some of that stuff just sucks all the way around--immigration laws and all. We certainly need them, but sometimes common sense should win out, ya know?

But yes, you can appoint anyone to be your medical power of attorney (and financial for that matter). Most homosexual partners already do this as it's the only way right now unless and until they can get married. Also, when you go into the hospital for something, they usually ask if you have a living will or medical POA and if you do not and want to appoitn someone at that time, they will give you the papers to do it. The thing is, those usually only apply to *that* hospital and you may not be able to take them to other doctors/hospitals, so it's always best to accomplish this with a lawyer. It isn't usually very expensive to do just POAs, and you can do them online too and as long as you make sure the signing requirements are met for your state (i.e., some require notary, some don't, some require each page to be initialed, some don't, stuff like that), then it's just as good.

Really, it's a good idea to have them done even if you *are* married because you can appoint a "contingent" POA as well. That way, if you and your partner are in an accident together and neither of you can make decisions, the person you want making the decisions is appointed.

[Songtan Sally]

Originally Posted by Birdy I didn't know that, although I guess it make sense. I saw on the news once a story about a teenage girl who had two moms; her dad had abandoned her as a baby. One of her moms was from Chile (if I'm remembering it right). Her biological mom came down with cancer and had only a few months to live. Because her moms couldn't get legally married, the woman from Chile couldn't get citizenship, and because of some funky laws couldn't adopt her daughter in her own country. Long story short, when the biological mom died, the girl had to go into foster care, even though she had a loving parent who would have taken care of her. I'm not the most emotional of people, but it made me tear up pretty bad.

This story right here is the BEST example / reason that this legislation needs to pass nationwide.

[Rainbow Brite]

Washington **** YEAH. Very happy about this!!! (ignoring the negativity)