Steve2,
All kidding aside, I am sorry to hear that you had a bad experience in a long term relationship, gay, straight, it doesn't matter, that just plain hurts.
I am all for equal protection under the law, so many laws we have are archaic and phobic in their origins and I think its high time to take them off the books. There has been a long trend of enlightenment but it would seem the pendulum has swung and now its headed back to a more conservative bent, at least here in the states. This too shall pass, I really don't think we are headed for another darkages.
Edited to add:
You make a good point when you say lawyers end up the winners! Ain't that almost always the case?!
Why do you think I went to law school?