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In the News: California Assembly Offers Equal Opportunity

You may remember a few months ago I talked about a whole new kind of marriage debate. The debate began because a man wanted to take his wife’s last name after they married and there were no laws allowing for this possibility. Well this has all changed now that the California Assembly passed legislation ending what may be perceived as marriage bias.

The Name Equality Act

The Name Equality Act also known as AB 102 was passed by a 45 to 20 vote. Democrat Fiona Ma from San Francisco with cosponsors that included three California affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union authored the bill. The law will give all domestic partners and married spouses the right to change their family name when they are married or registered as domestic partners.

Previously, state law made it difficult for a husband to take his wife’s name. Couples where a man wished to change his last name to his wife’s would have to go to court and pay court costs and more in order to achieve this desire will be pleased with the Name Equality Act.

AB 102 would make it possible for all newly married and registered couples to obtain legal recognition of their family name without unfair and undue hardship. No couple should have to go through an expensive and time-consuming court process in order to have their family name legally recognized and honored. With this legislation, Equality California continues to work toward its mission of ensuring equality for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Californians. – Executive Director Geoff Kors of Equality California

There are seven states that currently recognize a husband’s right to take his wife’s name. California will make the eight states and also be the first state to allow domestic partners the same legal opportunity to change their names. Massachusetts allows same-sex couples to change their names when they marry.

The next step for the bill is to head to the State Senate and if they pass it, the final step will be for the governor to sign it into law. Supporters of the legislation feel that it will most likely make it through these last two steps into law.

Other states that allow husbands to take their wives last names include:

  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Iowa
  • Louisiana
  • Massachusetts
  • New York
  • North Dakota

I applaud the efforts of the Assembly to pass this legislation and afford equal opportunity to facilitate all couples in taking the family name of their choice.

Check out more Marriage in the News articles.

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About Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago. They have a beautiful daughter who just turned five years old. She is learning to read and preparing for kindergarten in the fall. An author of more than 300 articles and 500+ web copy pieces, Heather has also written three books as a ghostwriter. Empty Canoe Publishing accepted a novel of her own. A former horse breeder, Heather used to get most of her exercise outside. In late 2004, early 2005 Heather started studying fitness full time in order to get herself back into shape. Heather worked with a personal trainer for six months and works out regularly. She enjoys shaking up her routine and checking out new exercises. Her current favorites are the treadmill (she walks up to 90 minutes daily) and doing yoga for stretching. She also performs strength training two to three times a week. Her goals include performing in a marathon such as the Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness or Team in Training for Lymphoma research. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience through the fitness and marriage blogs.