Family Law

Get Married in California Once ? and Only Once?

By mbrickley

If state legislators feel comfortable banning gay marriage, they might as well ban divorce too, right?

Such is the opinion of one California resident – 38-year-old married father of two, John Marcotte – who has proposed the 2010 California Marriage Protection Act.

The initiative, which boasts the subtitle “Safeguarding marriage from the evils of divorce,” started as a kind of satire on the passage of California’s Proposition 8 – the legislation banning gay marriage in the state.

The 2010 California Marriage Protection Act has gained some momentum, however, and has garnered support from activist groups and individuals.

Gay marriage was outlawed in 2008 based on the stance that it is necessary to “protect the sanctity of traditional marriage,” according to an Associated Press report.

Marcotte argues that if California voters are so adamant about protecting traditional marriage, they should have no problem outlawing divorce – the ultimate breach of traditional marriage vows.

In order to make the ballot in 2010, Marcotte has to collect close to 700,000 signatures by mid-March. According to the Associated Press, even if the legislation makes the ballot, there’s no telling how voters would respond to it.

Feelings about the 2010 Marriage Protection Act are mixed. One resident argues that everyone wants to see fewer divorces – of course – but to make divorce illegal is simply impractical.

One gay rights group says they support Marcotte’s efforts, but have no plans to partner with him.

Some of Marcotte’s petition signers said they signed because of a real interest in preserving marriages. One man, who signed in support of his lesbian sister, said he doubts the initiative will pass, and if it did, “there’s something really wrong with America.”

If something like this ever did pass, there would be hoards of angry divorce lawyers around.

For more information, visit the 2010 California Marriage Protection Act Web site.

Full post as published by The Divorce Blog on December 04, 2009 (boomark / email).