The Long Arm of the New Laws
California's Proposition 8 got all the attention, but successful antigay measures in Arkansas, Arizona, and Florida could have further reaching implications for those states' residents -- gay or straight.
By Julie Bolcer
From The Advocate January 13, 2009
http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid67131.aspOn the surface, the recently passed constitutional amendments to ban marriage equality in Florida and Arizona and the measure to outlaw adoption by unmarried couples in Arkansas promise obvious harmful effects for LGBT residents. But look closely, and the laws also hold negative implications for unmarried straight couples, and potential consequences for vulnerable groups like children, domestic violence victims, and seniors.
"These amendments are nefarious not only because of the things they clearly do; they also create uncertainty about what's left on the table," says Sharon McGowan, staff attorney with the ACLU Lesbian and Gay Rights Project.
