Missouri Law Recognizes Gay Couples?

By Eric on December 3, 2007

Missouri, though trending blue in recent elections, is in no way a bastion of liberalism. Last year, in fact, Missouri legislators introduced a bill that would make Christianity the state’s official religion (it failed), and Missouri law allows LGBT people to be fired, evicted, and even cut off from statewide public services because of their sexual orientation. That’s why I was surprised to hear a story from Kansas City where Missouri may have legally recognized a lesbian couple.

A lovers’ quarrel between two women got out of hand, police said, and one found herself nearly set on fire. She said it was the first time in their 10-month relationship that she had seen her girlfriend get violent.
…
The victim said [ex-girlfriend Nicole P.] Selectman called her several times and asked her not to pursue charges, but prosecutors charged Selectman with unlawful use of a weapon, second-degree domestic assault and tampering with a motor vehicle.

Let me perfectly clear: this–and every case of domestic violence–is a terrible crime that should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and I’m in no way trying to suggest that assaulting your partner is an appropriate way to gain recognition for your (soon-to-be over) relationship. But I found it interesting that Selectman was charged with domestic assault. Under Missouri law,

A person commits the crime of domestic assault in the second degree if the act involves a family or household member or an adult who is or has been in a continuing social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the actor

In this case, the law apparently includes homosexual partnerships in the same category as heterosexual relationships (and for good reason, because domestic abuse is not a specifically homo- or heterosexual crime). I wonder, though, if this law could be used to argue that homosexual relationships should be given that same equivalence when it comes to adoption, or parenting rights, or hospital visitation rights, or joint banking, or tax dependency, or other benefits that are currently only available to heterosexuals. In a very morbid sort of way, could this domestic violence law be the first step to LGBT rights in Missouri?

Tags: LGBT, Missouri

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