A Stitch in Haste

Anti-gay governor of Massachusetts and likely presidential candidate Mitt Romney apparently can't find money in the budget to print a handful of gay-neutral birth certificates:

Governor Mitt Romney's administration is advising hospitals to cross out the word father on birth certificates for the children of same-sex couples and instead write the phrase "second parent," angering gay and lesbian advocates and city and town clerks who warn that the altered documents could be legally questionable.
...
[C]ity and town clerks, who register and store birth records, argue that the cross-outs on the birth certificates could make them open to challenges by passport agents, foreign governments, and other officials. They have repeatedly asked Romney to create a new birth certificate for the children of same-sex parents that would include gender-neutral nomenclature.

But Romney has resisted, arguing that the Legislature must first pass a law authorizing such a change.

First of all, the idea that every update of every state form must first be authorized by the state legislature is the worst kind of political evasion. Perhaps Romney actually wants those Massachusetts "activist judges" to get involved again so he has another sound bite for his presidential run.

Anyway, as any minimally competent attorney can tell you, just "crossing stuff out" on simple private contracts, let alone official government documents, is an express lane to future litigation. Romney and his advisers undoubtedly know this.

A private attorney who suggested to just "cross stuff out" on important documents would be liable for malpractice. And a person who knowingly alters birth certifcates can be guilty of a crime.

But for a bigot governor and presidential hopeful, it's "politics."

Remind me again how it's not about naked bigotry, but "just about marriage"?

More thoughts from PurpleScarf.

FUN FACT: The Boston Globe also reports that there were 61 births to married same-sex couples in 2004 in Massachusetts. So far this year there are already 75. The future is already here!