Comments on: Gay couples can use married names on passports

By: Lyn B

Lyn B — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:30:53 +0000

My wife and I applied for passports in March, they declined them saying our marriage certifcate is not a leagal name change for same-sex marriages. We were able to change it through nys dmv and social security. They want us to go get a judge to certify this, but they also kept are birth certifcates which we would need and this is expensive. I questioned them based on this article via email and i was sent back the standard answer, that a marrige is only recognized as a union between and man and women.

By: Brianne

Brianne — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:58:22 +0000

I am not married but if i had a civil union or a marriage, this would make me very happy! (no i’m sorry officer this is not my sister, would not have to be used anymore)

By: John

John — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:22:33 +0000

Heterosexual couples shouldn’t go through immigration together any way. In many countries (Japan, China), they see you one by one. The only exceptions are for those with young children. Otherwise, you’d be asked to approach the immigration officer by yourself regardless. From a security standpoint, this is far more effective. From a social standpoint, it is less awkward precisely because these kinds of personal questions never come up.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:07:29 +0000

My huspand and I were in the United States the fall of 2008, in conneticut. We married in Massachusetts, while waiting for our new born twin sons to get the okay from the doctors to return over seas. We had no problem obtaining a new U.S. passport with my new last name. We used a passport agency in Conneticut. I was actually suprised to read your article. My heart felt sorrow for those having problems getting the same friendly sevice we received when we went to get mine and the kids passports.

By: TC in Brooklyn

TC in Brooklyn — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:36:21 +0000

Dennis, what you experienced is another example of the gap in policies and procedures of the State Dept. (that oversees passports) and Homeland Security (that oversees Immigration and Customs). Hope the DHS folks get the memo. My partner and I have approached US immigration officers upon returning to the States and, fortunately, have not had that experience of being separated. But it seems to depend on which officer you get.

By: dennis

dennis — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:05:28 +0000

just 2 months ago my life-partner of 34 years and i (who were legally married in canada) were returning to the USA from germany. when we approached immigration together we were told that the USA government did not recognize our relationship and we would have to be seen separately. one of us was directed back into the line waiting. while it of course did not change things, we did state that we were legally married and were used to being treated as a couple everywhere we go in europe and canada. upon our arrival back “home” it was an instant reminder that we were second-class citizens and that we were considerably more “free” in numerous other countries.

By: Gus

Gus — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:27:10 +0000

just crumbs

By: Jennifer L

Jennifer L — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:25:16 +0000

“There’s no doubt that President Obama has made a strong commitment to repeal the DOMA [...] Mineau said.”

Wow…is he paying attention to the same Obama I am? “Strong commitment” is not the phrase I would apply to the President’s efforts to get rid of DOMA.

By: TruthSpeaker

TruthSpeaker — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:23:03 +0000

I’m totally confused by this article. Several years ago, I changed my last name to that of my partner’s by filing a name change petition with a court. Took me longer to park at the Court House than it did for the judge to sign the order changing my last name. I then got a new social security card, driver’s license, and passport. So, all of this was already possible if you simply took the extra step of legally changing your last name via a court order.

By: John

John — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:37:29 +0000

The Social Security Administration accepts a marriage certificate as proof of name change for women married to men. Will they do so for same-sex couples? Or will gay people be forced to petition a court for a name change order?