The incomparable truth – how domestic partnerships do not adequately protect families’ rights

In December, I wrote a blog entitled, “California’s proposition 8 affects families.” In that blog I wanted to illustrate the mere fact that domestic partnerships are not equal to that of civil marriage, an argument professed by proponents of proposition 8. In the end, California’s Supreme Court will decide the validity of proposition 8, but again, I ask the question. Did people know what they were voting for at the time? I doubt it.

Shirley Tan, the “wife” and domestic partner of Jay Mercado, faces deportation because her attorney allegedly failed to notify her that her request to stay in the U.S. was denied back in 2002. Jay Mercado, who is also a female, is a natural citizen. If Mercado were a male, there would be no issue with Tan’s immigration status. Her marriage to Mercado would protect her. Yet, despite being “married” and having registered as domestic partners with the state of California, the domestic partnership law does not protect individuals from deportation should an issue arise related to their immigration status. Tan and Mercado, who have been together for 23 years, have two children, twin boys who were born to Tan while she resided in the United States. As California lawmakers work to introduce legislature that may help Tan, the couple may be forced to choose: 1) relocate the family to the Philippines, or 2) allow Tan to be deported.

If people really knew that domestic partnerships were NOT equal to marriage, would the outcome of November’s election have been the same?