Tom Varik on Gay Marriage and Spousal Privilege: Philosophy in Action Podcast

On Wednesday's Philosophy in Action Radio, I interviewed attorney Tom Varik about "Gay Marriage and Spousal Privilege." The podcast of that episode is now available for streaming or downloading. You'll find it on the episode's archive page, as well as below.

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Podcast: Tom Varik about "Gay Marriage and Spousal Privilege"

As the cause of gay marriage gains ever-more traction, many have wondered whether marriage really matters. Attorney Tom Varik argues that it does. In this interview, he discussed the legal status and importance of gay marriage, including the recent Supreme Court cases, as well as the history and limits of spousal privilege.

Tom G. Varik is an attorney in Cleveland, Ohio, where he currently works for the Social Security Administration. He attended the University of Akron School of Law, earning a JD in 2009. Before that, he studied motion picture production at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, where he produced several short films featured in various international underground film festivals, and earned a BFA in 2006.

Listen or Download:

• Duration: 1:03:30
• Download: Standard MP3 File (21.8 MB)

Topics:

• The nature of spousal privilege
• Testimonial privilege
• Communication privilege
• A few examples
• The history of spousal privilege: Funk v. US (290 U.S. 371) (1933), Hawkins v. US (358 U.S. 74) (1958), Wyatt v. US (362 U.S. 525) (1960), Wolfe v. US (291 U.S. 7) (1934), and Trammel v. US (445 U.S. 40) (1980)
• The proper rule and proper justification for spousal privilege
• A parent-child privilege?
• The relevance of spousal privilege to gay marriage
• Elements of marriage for which people cannot contract
• The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
• The recent Supreme Court Case: Windsor
• The effects of the patchwork of state laws on gay marriage
• The Full Faith and Credit Clause
• The Proposition 8 Supreme Court Case
• The cultural acceptance of gays

Links:

• Same-Sex Marriages and the Federal Spousal Privileges by Tom G. Varik

Tags:

• Culture, GLBT, Law, Marriage, Politics, Rights

About Philosophy in Action Radio

Philosophy in Action Radio applies rational principles to the challenges of real life in live internet radio shows on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. For information on upcoming shows, visit the Episodes on Tap. For podcasts of past shows, visit the Show Archives.