Community questions marriage laws

By ALEXANDRA RODRIGUEZ
Collegian Staff Writer

A typical wedding ceremony includes a loving couple walking down an aisle decorated with flowers, exchanging rings and repeating something along the lines of ". . . for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, forever and ever, until death do us part."

While same-sex couples can enjoy this marriage experience, their union is not legally recognized in the United States. For this reason, Penn State's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community will celebrate "National Freedom to Marry Day" today.

"It's a day set aside for people to be aware of the fact that people of the same sex are not allowed to be married and have been denied many rights and privileges available to heterosexual couples," said Heather Solimini, political co-director for the Lambda Student Alliance.

Jennifer Dumin (sophomore-human development and family studies) said heterosexism is one of the last legalized forms of discrimination, and same-sex partners should have the same benefits as heterosexual couples, including tax benefits and rights to jointly own property.

However, the LGBT community is in conflict about whether to pursue rights for same-sex couples to marry or to eliminate the institution of marriage for all couples.

"I think the idea of marriages is a very heterosexist notion, but commitment to only one person is a universal desire, and I think the majority of the people plan to be committed to only one person and that should be celebrated," Dumin said.

But Dumin also expressed her reservations about marriage.

"I think being committed to one person is important, but I don't think that marriage itself should be legally praised in the way of receiving special benefits," she added.

John Katunich, political co-director for LSA, said ideas of marriage and domestic partner benefits should not be confused.

"Domestic partnership says that you should get those (legal) benefits even if you are not married," he said. "Freedom to marry is saying we want to expand this institution of marriage to benefit same-sex couples."

As part of "National Freedom to Marry Day," LSA will hold a workshop at 6:30 p.m. today in 307 HUB. The workshop will feature discussions of freedom to marry and civil rights.