Real Life 'Brokeback Mountain'

Brokeback Mountain...seen it? It's about two gay cowboys who go through a few decades wrestling with their lives, and their families are wrecked as a result of their taboo love.

Well, here's where life imitates art. In my state of Oklahoma, a gay man whose partner died has now lost their ranch, estate, and everything because of the lack of spousal rights.

Meadows' will, which left everything to Beaumont, was fought in court by a cousin of the deceased and was declared invalid by the Oklahoma Court of Appeals in 2003 because it was short one witness signature. Because Meadows had no biological children or surviving parents, his estate was divided up among his heirs. When the ranch sells, the proceeds are to be divided among dozens of Meadows' cousins.

Are these the 'family values' we want? Persons who live and love together to have the rights of married persons? 2 decades together mean nothing in Oklahoma law, for hetero or same-sex couples...all because of bigotry like this. Disgusting.

Thanks to AndrewSullivan for the link.