Kottkamp speaks from privilege
To the editor:
Jeff Kottkamp (March 3) should be relieved that he was born heterosexual, may marry the person of his choice and has access to the 1,049 marriage rights that taxpaying American couples do not have because they are Lesbian/Gay.
He should also be thankful that citizens are never asked to vote on whether or not he should have the right to marry or to have any of the rights of marriage that he takes for granted, ie: Access to Social Security after spouse’s death, burial determination after death of a spouse, next of kin status in medical emergencies, ability to file wrongful death suits, automatic inheritance of shared assets after spouse’s death, ability to file joint tax returns, veterans discounts based on spouse’s armed service status, ability to invoke spousal privilege in a court of law, and so on to the 1,049 legal right that Lesbian/Gay couples do not have.
Bottom line: LG people, even if they have lived together in a marriage relationship for 30 years, do not have the rights of just married today heterosexuals. Marriage rights are granted by the federal government. States cannot grant them, wills and legal documents cannot insure them. They are federal law which, under the constitution may not be dictated by churches and religion.
That is why President Obama is ignoring DOMA. He knows that it is an unfair, unconstitutional, immoral law. Mr. Kottkamp should be smart enough to know that, but oh well, that’s something that he doesn’t have to worry about. He’s a privileged heterosexual and a privileged man..
Judith Linden
Cape Coral