I can't say I care a great deal one way or the other about the gay marriage issue beyond the legal matter of the same rights married couples have being granted to gay couples. I stumbled across this You Tube video that certainly highlighted the impact of not having those legal rights in the US.

I gather this guy and his situation are fairly well known, but it was new to me... although it may be old news to many of you. I guess a documentary is being or was made about him and his plight. The You Tube video is possibly a tad melodramatic, but the way he was treated by officialdom and by his "friend's" family certainly highlights the effect of the legal limbo in which same sex couples find themselves.

Thanks, it's a touching, and I am afraid, all to familiar story.

Melodramatic and sad but all avoidable if they had made wills - and while a gay marriage/partnership would have changed his legal rights, such as access to his partner's hospital records, disposal of his partner's body, etc, it would not have changed the way his partner's family treated him.

Legislation is no replacement for education.

Melodramatic and sad but all avoidable if they had made wills - and while a gay marriage/partnership would have changed his legal rights, such as access to his partner's hospital records, disposal of his partner's body, etc, it would not have changed the way his partner's family treated him.

Legislation is no replacement for education.

" all avoidable if they had made wills"

That was one of my first thoughts too, but then at that age I suspect most couples, gay or straight, don't get around to drawing up wills. I wonder how many gay farangs in Thailand have had a Thai will drawn up to protect their partners, who would otherwise have no legal standing following their deaths.

On the other hand, if Shane and his partner had a house & mortgage, as well as a business, it appears that either they did the necessary legal things to protect the survivor's interest in those assets ... or else Shane may face further issues with his partner's family if they want to be truly vindictive.

Edited May 8, 201313 yr by Suradit69

That was one of my first thoughts too, but then at that age I suspect most couples, gay or straight, don't get around to drawing up wills. I wonder how many gay farangs in Thailand have had a Thai will drawn up to protect their partners, who would otherwise have no legal standing following their deaths.

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Let's not tempt anyone to start a poll!

Pretty well everything my Thai Partner and I have is jointly owned, or in the case of property in Thailand in his name, so although he's twenty years younger than me he has also "had a Thai will drawn up to protect" me, just in case - I've seen too many people killed just crossing the road here, and so has he, to take anything for granted.

Its all a bit morbid, but not making a will (and, now that its legal in Thailand, a living will) strikes me as being either very lazy or very selfish.

That was one of my first thoughts too, but then at that age I suspect most couples, gay or straight, don't get around to drawing up wills. I wonder how many gay farangs in Thailand have had a Thai will drawn up to protect their partners, who would otherwise have no legal standing following their deaths.

..

Let's not tempt anyone to start a poll!

Pretty well everything my Thai Partner and I have is jointly owned, or in the case of property in Thailand in his name, so although he's twenty years younger than me he has also "had a Thai will drawn up to protect" me, just in case - I've seen too many people killed just crossing the road here, and so has he, to take anything for granted.

Its all a bit morbid, but not making a will (and, now that its legal in Thailand, a living will) strikes me as being either very lazy or very selfish.

" Let's not tempt anyone to start a poll!"

No fear about me starting that. I have a Thai will made up, but when I broached the subject on a different forum hinting that it was something everyone should take care of or else all their possessions, property and cash would, at best, go into limbo at their death, a couple of people went ballistic, accusing me of being elitist or making public what should be my personal business (although I never mentioned anything specific).

I suspect the reaction was more a matter of those unwilling to accept that they won't live forever and/or a fear of dangling a cash carrot in front of their partners. Even if someone has nothing more than a bit of furniture and some cash in the bank, it's better that your "friend" gets it than for it to sit gathering dust until someone notices it wouldn't be missed if it suddenly disappeared. Certainly if you own a condo or home or car or anything else that would benefit your friend it seems uncaring not to make this provision. But I know some people just don't want to think or talk about such a thing or maybe they believe their love transcends material things.

Edited May 14, 201313 yr by Suradit69

The birth of another American gay activist!

One beauty thing about this viral video is that the deceased lover's horrible family's plan to cover the truth about their son has been totally foiled. Bravo!

About polls here on the gay forum: experience has shown that participation is predictably pitiful. So not really worth the bother in general.