"If you want the same rights as married couples, then get married!"

[MJ]

The above qoute is a reader's comment on a BBC article titled "Do cohabiting couples need more legal rights?"

I'm all for cohabitors gaining certain rights available only to married couples, but the quote made me chuckle because there is some truth in it.

What do you think?

 

[InsertCleverNameHere]

It's true, I mean if you want those rights, why not get married? Is it even anything to argue?

 

[Afrolinda]

I'm just planning on cohabitating. I made the choice that I will not marry and I believe I should live with the consequences of my decision.

 

[Integrity]

sorry but i agree. Marriage needs to be held sacred. NO equal 'rights' for unmarried vs married. there is a clear difference between the two


ps: this thread could get 'interesting'

 

[Glib Gurl]

I agree that unmarried cohabitators shouldn't have the same rights as married folks. Otherwise Will & Grace would've had mad health benefits and whatnot

Now here is my thing about cohabitation -- I don't see why some folks (like my church-going parents) are against it, but don't seem to have a problem with fornication. (I mean, they don't promote it, but they fully expect folks to do it and don't look at anyone sideways for doing so.) I mean, is the problem that when you live together that other people *know* you're fornicating? I just never got that . . . .

You may now throw tomatoes.

*runs and hides*

 

[blackmaven]

I agree if you want the same rights then one should get married. However, in some states gay couples are reaping the same benefits as cohabitators so go figure.

 

[Mortons]

Umm no cohabitators should not get the same rights as married folk. You are not married. There is a reason gay and lesbian couple are fighting for the right to be married. There is something special and sacred about a marital bond that shacking up just doesn't cut. And as a gay rights activist I don't feel for any heterosexual couple who wants rights but does not get married. You have a right millions are fighting to get but refuse to exercise it.

 

[dlewis]

Reading and waiting (insert smiley with popcorn here)

 

[PaperClip]

Sigh.... I'll tell you what I told my classmate who has been in a gay relationship for 25 years: if you want health/tax benefits, then advocate for BENEFITS regardless of "coupling", meaning that me, as a single (hetero) student with no health insurance, I'd could "couple up" (no sex/relationship) with a person who has benefits and I get those....

 

[Afrolinda]

sorry but i agree. Marriage needs to be held sacred. NO equal 'rights' for unmarried vs married. there is a clear difference between the two


ps: this thread could get 'interesting'

YES, I agree.

 

[honeybadgirl]

if you want the benefits, advantages and respect, get married....i agree

 

[Poohbear]

I agree that unmarried cohabitators shouldn't have the same rights as married folks.

I agree.

Now here is my thing about cohabitation -- I don't see why some folks (like my church-going parents) are against it, but don't seem to have a problem with fornication. (I mean, they don't promote it, but they fully expect folks to do it and don't look at anyone sideways for doing so.) I mean, is the problem that when you live together that other people *know* you're fornicating? I just never got that . . . .

You may now throw tomatoes.

*runs and hides*

Your parents are against cohabitation, but they don't see a problem with sex before marriage??? erplexed That's strange. Fornicating publicly or privately are both a problem. No sin is greater than any other sin.

 

[angelk316]

I think couples that are cohabitating should get some rights. Some people just don't want to get married and they should not be penalized for it. After all we are all adults and we should not be telling each other how to live our lives.

 

[seraphinelle]

I concur.

But I am indeed a very conservative person with my beliefs.

 

[~*~ShopAholic~*~]

If they want the same rights then get married, and to the bold: I think allowing them to have the same rights is just going to open the door for more of the bolded, pple will start to think why get married if I can have that. I tell ya satan is always busy and this is just one of his other plots to tear this world down farther than it already is.

I agree.

Your parents are against cohabitation, but they don't see a problem with sex before marriage??? erplexed That's strange. Fornicating publicly or privately are both a problem. No sin is greater than any other sin.

 

[Glib Gurl]

I agree.

Your parents are against cohabitation, but they don't see a problem with sex before marriage??? erplexed That's strange. Fornicating publicly or privately are both a problem. No sin is greater than any other sin.

Well, it's not like they're PRO-fornication, but they see that as somehow acceptable as long as the folks aren't living together. For instance, they know that my brother sleeps with different women. They seem to be "okay" with this. ("Well, at least he's not GAY!" says my conservative mother.) But, they would have a fit if he decided he wanted to live with a woman.

 

[Afrolinda]

I think couples that are cohabitating should get some rights. Some people just don't want to get married and they should not be penalized for it. After all we are all adults and we should not be telling each other how to live our lives.

I totally agree with you.

 

[PeaceFlow]

Fill me in but I dont understand why married people get more rights at all.

What about people who co-habit and have been together years but dont need a marriage to show commitment, look after their kids well to be good members to society vs married couples who are a shambles behind closed doors.

I dont get it

 

[Afrolinda]

Fill me in but I dont understand why married people get more rights at all.

What about people who co-habit and have been together years but dont need a marriage to show commitment, look after their kids well to be good members to society vs married couples who are a shambles behind closed doors.

I dont get it

ITA. Have you seen the divorce statistics nowadays ( worldwide )? and the reason why people get married ( some reasons I've heard are just crazy ) ?"Marriage is sacred?" NOOOOOOO, it used to be sacred.

 

[seraphinelle]

Fill me in but I dont understand why married people get more rights at all.

What about people who co-habit and have been together years but dont need a marriage to show commitment, look after their kids well to be good members to society vs married couples who are a shambles behind closed doors.

I dont get it

Who said married people need to show their commitment?

 

[blackmaven]

Fill me in but I dont understand why married people get more rights at all.

What about people who co-habit and have been together years but dont need a marriage to show commitment, look after their kids well to be good members to society vs married couples who are a shambles behind closed doors.

I dont get it

You ever heard that song "She got papers" well I do. You want me look after your kids of course. I will. Sign your name on the dotted line cause am your wife now. I am not going to play house.

 

[Arcadian]

I guess this may be the case where kids are concerned. Well, IMO kids change the dynamic of any relationship.

Personally if I wanted married folks rights I'd have been married. Its pretty evident that I don't.

There are some things that married or not, people should do (I've already rattled those off more than once, so I'll not go into it here)


-A

 

[Connie]

ITA. Have you seen the divorce statistics nowadays ( worldwide )? and the reason why people get married ( some reasons I've heard are just crazy ) ?"Marriage is sacred?" NOOOOOOO, it used to be sacred.

That's the point. Giving common-law partners the same rights as married ones would virtually eliminate the sanction of marriage altogether.

I've been married once and I've also been the common-law partner, and I'll never co-habit again. No offense intended, but I'd rather be a real wife than an 'acting' one.

 

[Mortons]

I think couples that are cohabitating should get some rights. Some people just don't want to get married and they should not be penalized for it. After all we are all adults and we should not be telling each other how to live our lives.

No one is telling people who cohabitate how to live. They are allowed to do as they please. And ITA, we are all adults. A major part to being an adult is that we must accept the consequences to out actions. And cohabitators do not get the same rights as married folk do. That is the consequence for cohabitating instead of getting married.

 

[Mortons]

Who said married people need to show their commitment?

Umm yeah, the vows and legal binding to one another didn't do that I guess? erplexed Someone fill me in.

 

[Afrolinda]

That's the point. Giving common-law partners the same rights as married ones would virtually eliminate the sanction of marriage altogether.

I've been married once and I've also been the common-law partner, and I'll never co-habit again. No offense intended, but I'd rather be a real wife than an 'acting' one.

Non taken.

 

[Farida]

A lot of people tell me they don't want to get married because marriage is just a "piece of paper."

I just think some people want to have all the benefits but with the option of leaving with no obligations. If they want the benefits they should have the liability too. If I am co-habiting and we break up should I have the right to demand alimony or half the house? Or should I get discounted health insurance, tax breaks, powers of attorney but in terms of divorce I'm a single person?

Just get married. Especially for those who think it is just a piece of paper. Then what is the big deal if it is merely paper?

 

[Integrity]

A lot of people tell me they don't want to get married because marriage is just a "piece of paper."

I just think some people want to have all the benefits but with the option of leaving with no obligations. If they want the benefits they should have the liability too. If I am co-habiting and we break up should I have the right to demand alimony or half the house? Or should I get discounted health insurance, tax breaks, powers of attorney but in terms of divorce I'm a single person?

Just get married. Especially for those who think it is just a piece of paper. Then what is the big deal if it is merely paper?

lol good point!!

 

[FlowerHair]

In my country cohabitants and married people have more and more similar rights/legal status each year. So I think some parts of the world are moving towards this and I think it is a good thing for all those men who don't want to get married, but want to live with a woman for all the benefits. There shouldn't be any escape from doing the right thing.

 

[derbygurl]

I did co habitate for about 5 years and I an now out of that situation. I don't think non married couples should get the same rights as married couples but things are already headed that way. They call it domestic partnership and at my job when it comes to insurance he was able to receive my benefits because we were considered to be in a domestic partnership. Also, here in KY we have 'common law marriage' so when we were going through our seperation and things needed to be divided there was no just taking of things. He was not on my lease and during a situation I called the police to have him removed, when they got there he proved he had lived there for more that 2 years so the police told me that we were now in a 'common law' relationship and everything had to be taken through the courts, they could not remove him. We had to go to court, have a mediator help us divide, and then a sheriff escorted him to pick up things on the list. I was very actuallly surprised by everything we had to go through to end it.