[quote][b]1. Automatic inheritance in the absence of a wil[/b]l – What this means for us is that we can live with our partner for thirty years and our relationships are still not seen as valid. My partner can die tomorrow. I would not get what ought to be hers by right. I have to have had an attorney write it down and make it legal. [b]2. Death and Burial Rights[/b] - If my partner dies I cannot make the legal decisions about her burial and funeral services. Her family, especially that one homophobic brother, can handle everything. Not me though. However, again, with some legal paperwork from an excellent attorney that can be sidetracked if she designates me to handle while she is alive and sane. [b]3. Retirement Benefits do not transfer to partner[/b] - Unmarried partners cannot leave surviving spouses Medicare plans and retirement pensions. Doesn’t that just stick in your crawl? I can work alongside the love of my life for years. However, when she passes I cannot access her pension. No Social Security benefits for the surviving partner. It is as if we don’t exist. [b]4. Tax Breaks[/b] – Nope, we don’t catch a break here either. We pay taxes on properties given to us or that we have shared with our loved one. We have to pay estate taxes as well. Don’t forget the Probate issues. This is just so wrong! [b]5. Automatic inheritance if there is not a will[/b] – Pay attention here! We have to have wills written by trained professional attorney’s that can be honored in the court system. Without a will you are just a non entity looking greedy to the biological grieving family. [b]6. Health Insurance or the Lack thereof[/b] – Most companies so not offer same sex health benefits. They can’t even figure out how to determine who a spouse is or what qualifies as a relationship. Folks who do get same sex benefits are still getting taxed on them as if they were a gift. Read up on imputed income. Seems irrelevant that heterosexual marriages break up daily and the insured partner is still on the insurance policy. [b]7. Family Leave and Medical Leave[/b] - You know about this Federal law. It says that heterosexuals employees can ask for time off for a sick child or injured family member. It just can’t be your life long partner of twenty five years who just had a stroke. No worries. [b]8. Joint Adoption [/b]– Married heterosexuals automatically get joint adoption. The Federal Laws ensure it. Gays can adopt too- when hell freezes over; or you have enough money to move to a state that has better, kinder, wiser laws. [b]9. Marriages are recognized in one state only[/b] – If you got married in one of the ten states that offer gay marriage…don’t ever move. Your marriage will not be honored in the other 4o states. It may be considered a crime in other states as well. [b]10. Wrongful Death Issues[/b] – Only heterosexual people can have legal standing to sue in a wrongful death situation. it doesn’t matter if you have been together for fifty years. It doesn’t matter is she is/was the love of your lifetime. It just doesn’t matter to them at this point.[/quote] [url=http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/an-overview-of-federal-rights-and-protections-granted-to-married-couples]Here's even more[/url]