Bill would simplify changing names for partners, men

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 5/31/7 | Matthew Yi

[SmithL]

Current law makes it easy only for women -- when they marry

-- Sacramento -- When Kinna Patel and Ashle Crocker exchanged their vows and registered as domestic partners in September, the lesbian couple also decided to have the same last name for their new family.

Patel, who wanted to change her last name to Crocker, had to jump through a series of legal hoops, take out a newspaper ad announcing the pending change of her name, and pay hundreds of dollars in fees to legally become Kinna Crocker.

"And it's a good thing I'm an attorney. If I had to hire a lawyer, it would have cost thousands more," said Crocker, of Sacramento. "Still, I would much rather have wanted to spend my $700 plus my time on something else."

Women who get married to men, by contrast, can change their last names simply by checking off a box on the marriage certificate application. A bill pending in the state Legislature would extend that right to domestic partners such as the Crockers and to marrying men.

The measure, AB102, would require applications for marriage licenses and certificates of registered domestic partnerships to include a line for name change for all parties.

Seven other states -- Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York and North Dakota -- allow a man to take on his new spouse's family name.

But if the bill by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, becomes law, California would be the first state to allow domestic partners to have that same right. The issue has been a point of contention among many conservative groups, who argue that the legislation is another step toward legally recognizing same-sex marriage.

[SmithL]

Isn't that special?

[Red Badger]

Seven other states -- Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York and North Dakota -- allow a man to take on his new spouse's family name.

Strange, I thought it was optional in all states......

[ca centered]

Thats just too freaking bad. freaks

[traditional1]

Have them all get name changes such as :

Dyke

Faggot

Lezbo

Homo

etc., to truly identify their new-found "lifestyle" and status in society.

[bmwcyle]

Men with spines or future RINOS and DEMS.

[KarlInOhio]

Seven other states -- Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York and North Dakota -- allow a man to take on his new spouse's family name.

If Arkansas was on that list 30 years ago the last president would have been Bill Rodham.

[Uncle Hal]

The inmates are running the insane asylum.