The View From Your Recession

A reader writes:

In 30 days, my Boston office is closing to move to a different state. Along with several of my co-workers, I will be losing my job. Our office is moving to a cheaper state because our bosses do not want to pay the rent for our nice, but excessive, offices.

When we declined our bosses' offer to move last summer, none of us knew that six to eight months later we would find ourselves on the unemployment line.

We thought we were doing the right thing by letting them know as early as possible we would be separating from the company. Most of us told them back in August or September, right in time for all the advertising and marketing jobs (our field) to dry up. While being unemployed starting in April hurts, watching the new hires take your place just rubs it in.

The other thing I have realized through all of this is the cruelty and capriciousness in our gay marriage laws (err, bans). As a single person, it never really hit home how cruel having one state who recognizes gay marriage and another who does not really is. You see, my co-worker married his partner a few years back. They have a house, children, cars, the picket fence. (No dog though.) Though we have never spoken about it, it pains me to think that he is facing a choice between finding a career in a different state and retaining his rights (such as they are) as a father and a husband. How many of us are asked by the government to choose between having a happy family and the financial success that encourages that happiness? How can the government say they are a family in Massachusetts but not in Utah, or Pennsylvania, or wherever?