Every Trick in the Book: The Essential Lesbian & Gay Legal Guide

The advice and wisdom in this solid, practical guide is rooted in the legal lessons that the AIDS epidemic taught many gay men the hard way, when they learned that in matters of physical and/or financial care for a dying partner,""the law had left them out of its provisions."" Gays and lesbians, attorney Senak writes, must ""know, understand and plan"" for their future with more focus and determination than heterosexual couples. The problem is that gays and lesbians frequently do not, by definition, have a legal problem when it comes to matters of domestic partnerships, marriage, adoption rights, military service, job discrimination, etc. A legal problem involves a dispute about how to interpret the law, but""if there is no law to protect you in the first place, then it would be hard to say that you have a legal problem."" In other words, Sendak says, the""law fails us as a community,"" and here he offers guidelines to assist readers in understanding current laws and determining how and when they should seek the advice of a lawyer. For situations ranging from civil unions to adoptions and adoption substitutes (Parental Decrees and Parenting Agreements, for example), to harassment, sodomy laws and transgender issues, Sendak offers a brief history of developments, the realities of current law and potential future progress. The book features a time line of events significant to lesbians, gays and transgendered people as well as a resource list of additional reading materials and contact information. A""know-why"" rather than a how-to volume, Senak's book skillfully explains to the reader their rights and what they can do to protect and insure them.