GAY MARRIAGE -- IS IT ABOUT MONEY?

It has come to my attention that, when a gay person dies, his money generally goes to his birth family.

To often, the partner has to fight the family for every penny.

I am wondering if this attitude goes back over 100 years to Oscar Wilde.

Wilde wrote The Importance of Being Earnest, which was recently made into a movie. He also wrote the Picture of Dorian Gray, the famous story about a vile man who looked young and beautiful while his portrait showed all of his evil.

Wilde was noted for his wit. He supposedly asked a society matron if she would sleep with him for one million pounds. She replied that she might. He then asked if she would sleep with him for one pound. She was upset and asked, "What do you think I am." Oscar replied, "We have already established what you are, we are now negotiating the price."

Wilde was openly gay. He believed his popularity would protect him. When his lover's father accused him of seduction, Wilde sued for libel. Bad mistake as the father was a Lord. The upshot was that Wilde went to prison for sodomy. (Oh, grow up. It is a word used by the courts.)

Anyway, I think Wilde made being gay somewhat acceptable as long as the gay person was discreet and just allowed himself to be termed "a confirmed bachelor".

After all, if the gay person was a bachelor, at least his money stayed in the family.

But now gay people want to have spouses. The law gives spouses certain rights, like the rights to inherit the estate of a deceased spouse. The money would no longer stay in the family.

So now families are guilt tripping gay partners into signing away whatever rights the law has given them. (Note to grieving gays: do NOT sign ANYTHING drawn up by your partner's family without consulting with both an estate attorney and a family law attorney.)

As usual, people use their prejudice as an excuse to legally, but immorally, take monies.