Why it's important to Think Equal

by: Juan Melli

Tue Dec 05, 2006 at 07:10:42 PM EST

Consider Paula Long and Rosalind Heggs of Camden who have been together over 15 years. They were registered as domestic partners and also had a civil union from Vermont. Under New Jersey law, they have hospital visitation rights and the right to make decisions on behalf of each other when the other is sick. That's what's on paper, but when Rosalind had a heart attack and needed a blood transfusion, the hospital refused to allow Paula to give consent. Paula even had a highlighted copy of the relevant law with her, but that didn't matter to the hospital. They demanded to see their marriage certificate. (see video of their story)

It doesn't matter how many rights you pile onto a word. What good is having the right to see your partner in the emergency room if the nurse at the door won't let you in? A successful legal fight is little consolation if you missed the chance to say that last goodbye. And why should an expensive legal battle even be necessary to claim the rights everyone else gets by default?

Under the guise of equality, the legislature may be about to make the same mistake it made when it recently passed the domestic partner law. No matter what name you want to call Paula and Rozz's relationship, the story above will be repeated unless that name is "marriage". It's the only word every hospital staffer - and every resident of this state - understands.