Domestic Partnership Law Compliance In California

Recent overnight visits of gay and lesbian partners to prison inmates have been allowed by the state of California. It is now one of the six states that allows overnight family visits and the only known state for permission of same sex conjugal visits. Terry Thornton, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, says that even though it is a touchy subject due to the danger of the situation in prison, the law is not negotiable. This law, signed by former Gov. Davis in 2005, hoped to prevent discrimination of eligibility for a same sex couple. Though it has taken awhile, the Corrections Department examined policies last year. The new regulations only permit those partners who have been established before one had went to prison. The policy will take effect later this year. Inmates like Vernon Foeller are happy to finally spend this one-on-one time with his or her partner. "It wasn't about the sex," says Foeller. Randy Thomasson, president of the Campaign for Children and Families, objects to any conjugal visits whatsoever. He says these visits only encourage the smuggling of contraband, and sexual disease transmissions can be spread very easily during these visits despite sexual orientation.

While it is true that these visits have the potential for any type of disease transmission or negative intention, I disagree with the idea that Randy Thomasson presents of no sort of visit whatsoever. Since the 1970s, immediate family have been able to visit inmates. I do not think it right to condem those who have not committed serious sex or violent crimes that deserve life term. These persons have already been sentenced and should not be further punished without due process of law. To do so would be cruel and unusual, and I believe that to finally recognize these same sex partners to be the couple that they are is an amazing thing that has taken place in this ever growing tolerant society.