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Handfasting

Fuzzy

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Is it recognised as legal where you are?

Yes*, via one of two methods.

1. Texas allows for "common law marriage," provided it meets three points:
Agree to get married at some point
Cohabitation
Presenting yourselves as married

2. File a marriage license. Texas is fairly loose on who your officiant can be, and can be summed up as "if you think they're good enough to." The person who officiated my handfasting, and signed our marriage license, is an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church.

* - Same-sex handfastings are not recognized, because same-sex marriage is not recognized in Texas.
 
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Montalban

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Yes*, via one of two methods.

1. Texas allows for "common law marriage," provided it meets three points:
Agree to get married at some point
Cohabitation
Presenting yourselves as married

2. File a marriage license. Texas is fairly loose on who your officiant can be, and can be summed up as "if you think they're good enough to." The person who officiated my handfasting, and signed our marriage license, is an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church.

* - Same-sex handfastings are not recognized, because same-sex marriage is not recognized in Texas.

surely they can just live together?
 
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Fuzzy

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So two gays can just live together

They could, and they could be handfasted, but it would not be a "common law" marriage, or a legally recognized "marriage." IIRC, the state legal statutes do reference "man and woman," and Texas follows the Defense of Marriage Act, and a 2005 amendment forbade any legal status identical to marriage (including, possibly, marriage itself).

And yes, I do know of more...non-traditional Christian sects that have had same-sex "commitment ceremonies."
 
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Montalban

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And yes, I do know of more...non-traditional Christian sects that have had same-sex "commitment ceremonies."

Yes, unfortunately, it's a modernist trend. However, they'd not be able to do this would they - because it's still illegal?
 
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Jane_the_Bane

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Yes, unfortunately, it's a modernist trend. However, they'd not be able to do this would they - because it's still illegal?
Somebody's trying to push somebody else's buttons, I take it?

In Germany, same sex unions have been a legal option since the early 2000s, and the Evangelical Church in Germany performs commitment ceremonies to grant Christian homosexual couples a more festive celebration.

In spite of all this, there has been no deluge of rampant homosexuality: those who have been gay before are still gay now, and those who were heterosexual are still heterosexual.

Last but not least, Germany differentiates between legal marriage and religious marriage: religious ceremonies have no effect on your tax status or anything else.
 
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Montalban

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Somebody's trying to push somebody else's buttons, I take it?
What's unfortunate is unfortunate. However moving the discussion along ...

In Germany, same sex unions have been a legal option since the early 2000s, and the Evangelical Church in Germany performs commitment ceremonies to grant Christian homosexual couples a more festive celebration.
What's this got to do with the situation in Texas?
 
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Montalban

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What's to discuss? You wanted to know about handfasting and its legality. It's a marriage ceremony. Not all relationships are treated equally by the laws of various nations, or by various religions.

It's just that from reading your responses you're suggesting that some churches are proceeding with illegal tasks.
 
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Fuzzy

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There's a qualitative difference between "illegal" and "not recognized."

Just because a religious organization confers a status does not mean a secular government entity, or another religious organization, necessarily has to recognize it.

If I were baptized in Australia, would I automatically become an Australian citizen?
 
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Montalban

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There's a qualitative difference between "illegal" and "not recognized."
Yes I accept that, but are you saying that Christian churches are performing illegal practices?
Just because a religious organization confers a status does not mean a secular government entity, or another religious organization, necessarily has to recognize it.
I understand that.

From what I gather from your posts there's two points

a) Handfasting or other ceremonies are performed by some Christian groups for the purposes of uniting a gay couple
AND
b) it's illegal in Texas

If I were baptized in Australia, would I automatically become an Australian citizen?

That's a dreadful analogy, baptism has nothing to do with citizenship.
 
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