knowing that marriage has only a 50% success rate as it is, I wonder how many could survive with this kind of added stress ....


Homophobic Attacks Lead Gay Couple To Split
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff Posted: April 15, 2008 - 5:00 pm ET
(Edinburgh) Dreams of domestic bliss following their civil partnership have been shattered for a Scots gay couple following a series of homophobic attacks, allegedly by their neighbors.
Bryan Morgan and Richard Brown have filed to have their partnership terminated. Morgan says that the pressures from the constant attacks were just too much.
"Every time we went out young thugs would abuse us because of our sexuality and once we were set upon and attacked by three neds. It got worse after I moved to another house, in Irvine. For two months I was calling the police out about three times a night," he recently told The Mail newspaper.
"Gangs of up to 15 youths were outside shouting abuse, throwing bricks and trying to break my door down."
Morgan and Brown were among the first Scottish gay couples to have a civil partnership when the law went into effect a year-and-a-half ago.
Entering into a relationship and living with someone has its own pressures, but the verbal and physical abuse the couple suffered was just to much for Morgan and Brown's relationship to survive.
They moved from their home in Saltcoats and then drifted apart.
"In retrospect we did rush into things. There were other issues but the homophobic attacks had a massive influence on our splitting up," Morgan said.
He filed for the dissolution of the partnership, but Brown's whereabouts are unknown and Morgan has been unable to serve him with papers.
Just as with a divorce from a marriage, the dissolution of a civil partnership must be approved by a judge.
"At the moment Richard has legal rights over me and vice versa. I just want that terminated," said Morgan, who is in a new relationship.
When the split becomes official it will be only the second time a Scots same-sex couple has ended their relationship.

Gay News From 365Gay.com
And this is unique to a gay couple how?
"In retrospect we did rush into things. There were other issues but the homophobic attacks had a massive influence on our splitting up," Morgan said.

This happens to all kinds of families depending on where they live even in the U.S. What's the difference from swastikas on a Jewish person's house, or a cross in front of a black families house, the list goes on and on. Probably had moreto do with the neighborhood they lived in.

nothing is different than the examples you gave ... except such attacks on gays are far more common

I have never personally ever seen a cross burning, nor a swastika painting (except in photos) - I have, however, seen multiple occasions when homophobic attacks have taken place.

:shrug

I'm curious how many people here have actually witnessed cross burnings and/or swastika brandings on buildings (the only attacks I've seen personally on churches are the 'fag' vandalism painting on U.C.C. churches.

Actually about once a month there is a neighborhood attack where kids run around spraypainting crap in a neighborhood. It happens.

Women are attacked quite often as well.

But this was in the UK though. Couldn't you get a more local news story. Gays have some "rights" in the UK.

Tristan,

I was wondering, have you and Jon every experienced any direct physical harrassment at your home or while out in pubic?

nope

but that's because we're big scary hippies

LOL! You two ARE that. Do you ever pack a concealed weapon?

yes - I do (not Jon) - but it's registered and legal

it has nothing to do with gay bashings - we live in a nice neighborhood and there have occasionally been muggings in the dog park

I've thought about doing it myself. Hell, I live in Iraq most of time now and still don't carry a weapon.

why not? if there is one place on earth you need one it is there.