This is what it's all about.
What would we do without Americablog? And Tyra Banks?
BANKS: (Reading a question ) "I am a lesbian and my partner of 20 years is sick. She can't afford her medical expenses and because we are not legally married, my policy won't cover her. How can you help us?"
HRC: I believe that if you are in a committed relationship, you ought to be able to have your benefits go to that person, or to anyone else. Suppose you are living with your brother and you want him to have your benefits. He wants you to have your benefits. Suppose you are taking care of and living with your mother. If you are in a committed relationship, no matter what that relationship is.
BANKS: Woman, woman, man, man, it doesn't matter.
HRC: That's right. I believe the benefits are yours and you ought to be able to give them and pass them on to whomever you choose. Also, as we begin to see different states making these decisions, civil unions, domestic partners and, marriage, the federal government ought to make all of the benefits through Social Security and other programs available to any legally recognized relationship and I intend to do that.
I've always been a Bill Clinton fan, which made me a Hillary Clinton fan, too. I remember meeting her in '92 and thinking, "Damn! If Bill Clinton's got her in his corner, he might be pretty good! Can I vote for her?"
And yet, in recent years, while I've been a Hillary fan, I haven't been a BIG Hillary fan. She hasn't been my first choice. I've been hoping for more leadership from her in the Senate, and I've been disappointed. Still, this is making me re-think my lack of enthusiasm.
To repeat myself, this is what it's all about. Marriage isn't just about love and companionship and all that guff. It's about property rights, it's about legal rights, it's about rights to benefits. There's no good reason to deprive Steve and Phil of the same rights my Lovely Wife and I share, other than to just be cruel.
This is big.
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