The Right, But Not the Obligation: Legal Bigs Capitalize on Gay Marriage

[WSJ_law_blog]

Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, celebrates as she holds a copy of the court order outside of the California State Supreme Court building in San Francisco, May 15, 2008, after the Court ruled in favor of the right for same sex couples to wed. (Credit: AP/Paul Sakuma)


As reported, couples who take advantage of same-sex marriage in California may face tough legal landscapes in their home states. On top of that, there are no guarantees of domestic bliss.

Still, it turns out that lawyers aren’t necessarily discouraged. Today, the Recorder reports on a spate of what might be called same-sex, same-profession marriages among “big names in the legal community.”

“We were not particularly enthralled with the institution of marriage when we met,” said Jennifer Pizer, the senior counsel of Lambda Legal’s L.A. office, referring to her partner of 24 years, public interest attorney Doreena Wang. “We had lots of ideas about sort of creating our own way and making our life together. But over the years, our thinking has evolved. There are a lot of people in our lives and our families who would be immensely disappointed if we didn’t create a special day of celebrating our love for each other and our love for them.” Wang and Pizer got a marriage license yesterday.

San Fran Chief Deputy Attorney Therese Stewart, who persuaded the California Supreme Court to issue its ruling last month, said she and her 16-year partner, solo practitioner Carole Scagnetti, haven’t gotten a license yet, but plan to wed on Aug. 31, in honor of a civil commitment ceremony they held on Labor Day — 13 years ago.

Judges are also getting in on the same-sex marriage craze. Judge Kevin McCarthy said he planned to marry his partner in an October ceremony presided over by fellow Judge Richard Kramer, who in 2004 ruled that California’s marriage laws unconstitutionally discriminated against same-sex marriage.
But, as the Recorder points out, not everyone is psyched. Jon Davidson, Lambda’s L.A.-based legal director, said he doesn’t have plans to marry, but wouldn’t elaborate. “We won the freedom to marry,” he said, “but not the obligation to marry.”