Co-op boards and marriage
"There's really a difference between two people who are married or have a civil union and two people who are individuals," Mr. Van Der Tuin said. "They are not a couple. They don't have joint assets or joint income or legal obligations to each other. They're asking the co-op to make a legal commitment to them that they're not willing to make to each other."
From a NY Times article about a co-op board who refused a couple's application.
In NY, LGBT couples still can't get civil unions, and even in states with civil unions, or even marriage (MA), these marriages are not recognized in all states. This case was a straight couple-- how are co-op boards treating LGBT couples? What if it's not that you're "not willing" to make the legal commitment, but are barred from making it?
I heard the best story a few nights ago-- "When I told my mom I was getting married, she asked-- Why would you want to get the government involved in something so important as who you love for the rest of your life?"
Comments
While it would certainly be different in other states, I doubt that a co-op board in New York would dare discriminate against unmarried gay couples. Straight couples may have good reason for not wanting to marry, but they must understand that there are consequences to that decision--notably that their relationships are not going to be given much weight in the eyes of government or society.
Posted by: Mike B. | November 6, 2005 2:59 AM
Hey-- how are you? I'm so glad you're reading ipalimpsest! With rent regulation in NYC (http://tenant.net/DHCR_info/pubs/successn.html), straight couples can just get married, but also, there's an entire passage defining "family member" that could cover LGBT families and unmarried straight couples. I don't know if there's anything for co-op boards, except the law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of marital status.
I agree, though, LGBT couples probably wouldn't be discriminated against in NYC, but maybe in other parts of NY, and most likely in other states.
Posted by: Kate | November 7, 2005 10:04 PM