Mags, Archie - I of course defer to you whether this post is appropriate for this forum.

Disclaimer - the purpose of this post IS NOT to weigh or air views regarding homosexual marriage. Please do not turn this into a political/moral/religious debate! I think you'll see that both sides are served.

Just a thought here -

Given the issue in the U.S. of gay marriage and posturing by various political interests to either make it legal or outlaw it - including arguments for a Constitutional Amendment to protect the "sanctity" of marriage - are we being presented with a golden opportunity to REALLY do something about the sanctity of marriage at the same time?

Make adultery criminal.

OK, if not criminal - at least make adultery equivalent to a breach of contract? Thus, providing more fairness to betrayed spouses who end up financially harmed?

I am not a legislator nor an attorney, so perhaps this opportunity doesn't exist for some legal reason I don't understand. But it seems fitting to me that ANY legislation that has a purpose of either legalizing or outlawing gay marriage should take the obvious next step and make marriages mean more across the board in legal responsibility terms.

Gay folks want to be married? OK - let's REALLY make marriage mean something!

Want to deny gay folks from getting married? OK - let's REALLY make marriage mean something!

See? A win-win situation! Either way, we may have an opportunity to make adultery have legal and financial outcomes that do not "reward" the adulterers as is now the case. Take away the "no fault" divorce and make adulterers take legal responsibility for their choices.

Don't get me wrong. I fully understand that we cannot legislate morality and that the human costs of infidelity cannot be equated to the financial costs. Money can't fix betrayals. I also understand that BSs should continue to fight the good fight to try to save their marriages on the grounds of honor and integrity. Further, I wholeheartedly believe that vows and commitments ought to be enough. But if we're going to legislate ANYTHING under the pretense of making marriage more "equal" or "pure" or "fair" or whatever term being tossed around by politicians to describe their particular view - either side of the gay argument - we ought to do a complete job and make it harder to get away with violating that precious sanctity without legal and financial consequences. If it's SO important to make entering marriage SO sacrosanct, let's make marriage mean something when one partner wants to betray it.

So, when any legislation on this gets introduced, maybe we ought to be writing our legislators and ask them to do a thorough job - make it mean something to break the marriage contract.

Thoughts?

tar and feather a cheater?
public flogging?
excommunication from the human race?

Any of those sound like a winner?

just kidding, of course, since I am still married and in love with my H. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

You would be suprised but it is against the law in many states go to your state statutes site and check it out. I have never seen it used though.

I'm a WS, but I think if there were laws against adultery, I wouldn't have done it (well, probably not) It would have made me face my M issues first - maybe D, and then look elsewhere. I wouldn't have liked the options so I wouldn't have done it. It is too easy to "try out" the other side, while still being married.