I thought California was a liberal state?

Elderly Gay Couple Forcibly Separated, Abused, Robbed By County Officials in California:

One evening, Harold fell down the front steps of their home and was taken to the hospital. Based on their medical directives alone, Clay should have been consulted in Harold’s care from the first moment. Tragically, county and health care workers instead refused to allow Clay to see Harold in the hospital. The county then ultimately went one step further by isolating the couple from each other, placing the men in separate nursing homes. Ignoring Clay’s significant role in Harold’s life, the county continued to treat Harold like he had no family and went to court seeking the power to make financial decisions on his behalf. Outrageously, the county represented to the judge that Clay was merely Harold’s “roommate.”

And remember, it’s not just teh gays who can and are treated this way by uncaring or greedy officials; any “onorthodox” couple living together but not legally married this could happen to. Even though these poor guys had everything in order, when push came to shove this was not enough. The state officials who caused this misery thought they could indulge their prejudices and greed without fear for punishment. They need to be hammered down hard or others will be hurt this way. Both businesses and (state) governments need to learn that if they pull shit like this they will pay for it.