Ellen Goodman: Britney Spears Aids Gay Marriage

Ellen Goodman of the Washington Post is arguing that Britney Spears’ quickie wedding and annulment to childhood friend Jason Alexander aids those seeking to legalize gay marriage. She writes, “Britney and Jason were granted an annulment in 55 hours on the grounds that they lacked ‘understanding of each others’ actions in entering upon this marriage.’ Compare them to gay couples who ‘understand’ each other and commitment but are kept legally single. Now repeat the question family law professor Martha Minow asks: ‘Is this the moment to stand back and ask not who should get married but how to get married?’ Should we be more worried about thoughtless, instant, throwaway marriages than same-sex marriages?”