New Adventures of Old Christine

On the season premiere of the New Adventures of Old Christine, Barb divorces her husband Pete and finds that she might be deported back to the Bahamas because she was never an American citizen. She had arrived in the country on a student visa and then married Pete and stayed in the country because of their marriage.

Christine is heartbroken at the prospect of losing her best friend, and so she proposes to her. After all as she is reminded, gay marriage is legal in California.

Cute episode which even features an interracial kiss between two women.

Legally, of course, this is a sitcom - and so there are many issues raised that don't quite reflect the law. I will refrain from pointing them all out. However, unfortunately, even if they were to get married here in California, it would not solve Barb's citizenship issue. Immigration is governed by federal law, and federal law only recognizes marriage as between a man and a woman. And as such, federal law would not recognize the marriage between Barb and Christine for purposes of immigration.

It is wonderful that California has provided an opportunity for same-sex partners to marry. But unfortunately, the reality is that it still is not equal for all. This only reinforces why estate planning is important for same-sex couples to undertake, even if they do get married here in California.