Home      Login

Abstract: 

The first lesbian couple to marry in the United States was an old one: Phyllis Lyon, 79, and Del Martin, 83, had been together 51 years. Depending on your social beliefs, this marriage—and other gay and lesbian marriages—is something about which you probably feel either delight or horror. At any rate, it’s not an issue that needs to be dealt with by those who address abuse of elders and adults with disabilities, right? Wrong. Whether or not your clients can legally marry may have a significant impact on their vulnerability to abuse, neglect, and exploitation. This article explores why that is, and what steps A professional can—and cannot—take to try to lessen the costs and vulnerabilities being unable to marry causes some abused elders and adults with disabilities.

Keywords: Civil Unions, Civil Marriage, and the Defense of Marriage Act; limited financial options; limited care options

Affiliations:  1: American Society of Adult Abuse Professionals and Survivors.