You May Both Kiss The Bride How Denial of S Marital Rights Impacts Homosexuals By Valerie Christensen News Editor Dina and Whitney Hannah were married September 10 1994 after a month 13 courtship Their brothers gave them away they exchanged rings and the ceremony was performed performed performed per per- formed by a reverend However the state of Utah does not recognize them as married We had to spend to get my name legally changed to Hannah Whitney said a as the couple sat in their Salt Lake City home Then we had to spend another getting wills wilIs written Dina said The couple had to make a lot of special provisions provisions' to ensure that if one of them died the other would receive the estate Even if one does receive the estate beca because se they are not legally married a large i inheritance tance tax wi will 1 be charged to the survivor These are things a married couple couple couple cou cou- doesn't have to worry about Dina said Ve We did tons of legal maneuvering maneuvering ma ma- to reduce tax hits t t 4 4 t r n s t p i 4 4 4 l 3 V s 90 M r rf A.- A. f Att 4 E 4 t tt pt 1 t f. 4 t ti r St f Dina and Whitney Hannah the Editors of new 5 photo by Valerie Labrys Utah's lesbian new publication The couple was married September 10 1994 at the South Valley Unitarian Unitarian ian an Society Rev Bill Hamilton Holway Hamilton presided The Hannahs Hannah's here are pictured out outside ide their Salt Sait Lake City home Dina an accountant graduated from Brigham Young University and Whitney a financial planner from and The University of Phoe Phoe- nix They h y feel t that homosexual t dents face some real real- f financial and emotional issues When we Ie started dati dating ng Whitney said I was living in B approved BYU-approved housing I was really nervous The couple agrees there are many homosexual students who are Ii living ving quiet Ii lives ves Because they fear loss of family friends property and even employment many homosexuals keep quiet about their sexual orientation Melissa Bullard Dinas Dina's former roommate said the silence is cult Its hits hard not being able to talk to workers co-workers or fellow students students students stu stu- stu- stu dents about your weekend And its it's an obvious silence Loss is a very avery real issue for ho ho- At first Whitneys Whitney's parents parents parents par par- did not accept her rela relationship and had nothing to do with h her r for fora a year Now although Whitneys Whitney's parents accept their daughters daughter's relationship relationship relationship re re- re- re they still do not hug in iri Reactions from friends and roommates differ as well Whitney said her roommates were all very su supportive I of f h Ier er i on oP On On et even asked for a wedding announcement an- an but was disappointed when there was no photograph I think she just wanted to show it around B BYU YU for shock value Whitney said Whitney also receives a lot of support at work When Dinas Dina's mother had a heart attack my boss was very good about it He told me to take as much time off as I needed Unfortunately not all an homosexuals have the same type of support especially the ones who are still hiding their sexual preference According to Kathy a politically active lesbian homosexual students dont don't get the respect they need for their relationship If you tell your professor your husband is sick they are sympathetic about time out of class or allow you to tomake tomake tomake make up assignments If your roommate roommate roommate room room- mate is sick and you need time to take care of her they dont don't understand why it is your responsibility said the same type of problems s exist in a working environ environ- rent m I JJ o ual ny t L teave or medical benefits for for their partners or their partners partners' children because they dont don't have hav proof of legal dependency Bud Walker an independent broker for or health plans said there is a minimal difference between between between be be- tween insuring a married couple and two individuals However his understanding of policy is that they do require a marriage certificate certificate certificate cate to add a person to the primary holders holder's policy Financial aid is another area where the denial of marriage could be an issue for homosexual students Michelle Michelle Mi Mi- chelle Walton a financial aid advisor at said each case is individual but in some cases being married can get students more financial aid Kathy Worthington said financial aid is not the main issue because it is isa isa isa a case-by-case case scenario Some heterosexuals dont don't marry many because they can get better financial aid as individuals said Worthington Dina said she and her wife would have saved m more re on taxes taxes- this his year had they been able abie to file as a married marrie couple Te r T- T r e i ah l i p seem tobe an issue issue S u for student set sec 1 vices at Services such as turning point are offered to the public regardless of gender race or sexual orientation Connie King said the Health Center services are are- for registered students and services other than immunizations immunizations immunizations im im- im- im are not not available available to heterosexual heterosexual heterosexual het het- het- het and homosexual spouses spouses' alike King also said she would give give- an immunization tion to a partner as aswell aswell aswell well as a spouse The Hannahs Hannah's agree that th the sex same-sex marriage issue issuers is is predominately predominately predominately a moral and constitutional issue Homosexuals don dont don't t have the the right to be legally married Homosexuals are accused of being promiscuous said Dina but we dont don't have the right to make a legal commitment to our partner Bullard said The constitution promises liberty and ju justice tice for all aU If were we're not vocal about it theres there's no noway noway no noway way in hell well we'll get either one