You have got to be kidding me?! Any other states have this too?

[Pacifist Patriot]

I'm a minister in Florida so I've not encountered this myself. I happened to stumble upon it in a conversation with a minister from Indiana. I'm stunned, just stunned.

In order to obtain a marriage license in the state of Indiana women under the age of 50 must have a Premarital Examination Certificate completed. One of the items on the certificate says, "Applicant presents evidence of sterilization."

So how many men have to have one of these filled out indicating whether or not they present evidence of sterilization? Well, um, that would be....none.

:grr:

Women under the age of 50 in Indiana have to be evaluated as potential breeders before they can legally marry! I don't even live there and I'm outraged.

[RiDuvessa]

1. Not Illinois.

The only thing we had to do was fill out a couple of forms.

[ThomCat]

2. That is...

I don't even know what it is....
:grr:

What the hell business is it of the states whether or not any woman can or even wants to have kids?

You are right in that this is also blatantly sexist. What guy has ever been asked to document his sperm count in order to get married? How is it that people tolerate this sexism?
x(

[Wickerman]

3. Link?

I was married in Indiana and I don't recall having read that and I am confident Mrs. Wickerman would've had soemthing to say about that if it were on the certificate.

[Wickerman]

5. answering myself

its to verify rubella.


http://www.helplinelaw.com/law/usa-indiana/marriage/marriage.php

MEDICAL TESTS



Women under the age of 50 must bring a completed State of Indiana Premarital Examination Certificate. These are available through your family doctor or any RediMed, StatCare, or other urgent care clinic. Blood tests or premarital examinations for men are not required.



Physician's report accompanying marriage license application

A clerk of a circuit court may not accept an application for a marriage license unless the application for the license is accompanied by a written report that is prepared and signed by a physician with an unlimited license to practice medicine. The report must contain the following:



(1) The name of the individual who was examined.

(2) A statement that the individual was examined by the physician.

(3) The date that the individual was examined.

(4) If the individual who was examined is a female who is less than fifty (50) years of age, a statement of whether the individual has an immunological response to rubella.

(5) A statement of whether the individual objected on religious grounds to taking a test to determine immunological response to rubella.

[jobycom]

6. Same thing I found, it's not what it sounded like.

The evidence of sterilization was only if someone wanted to be exempted from rubella testing.

[Wickerman]

7. makes sense

I don't know anything about Rubella, though.

[jobycom]

8. Me, either, until I read THIS

From Wikipedia:

Rubella (also known as epidemic roseola, German measles, liberty measles<1> or three-day measles) is a disease caused by the Rubella virus. It is often mild and an attack can pass unnoticed. However, this can make the virus difficult to diagnose. The virus usually enters the body through the nose or throat. The disease can last 1-5 days. Children recover more quickly than adults. Like most viruses living along the respiratory tract, it is passed from person to person by tiny droplets in the air that are breathed out. Rubella can also be transmitted from a mother to her developing baby through the bloodstream via the placenta. The virus has an incubation period of 2 to 3 weeks during which it becomes established.

The name German measles has nothing to do with Germany. It comes from the Latin germanus, meaning "similar", since rubella and measles share many symptoms.

[Pacifist Patriot]

12. Here you go!

Link to a .pdf of the required form. http://usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/indiana/premarital_exam_form.pdf

As I said, what raises my hackles is the comment about "applicant indicates evidence of sterilization"

Found it linked on this site http://usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/indiana/index.shtml

Let me ask this then. What business is it of the state to mandate such testing at the time of issuing a marriage license? Procreation does not require the bonds of matrimony the last time I checked. In my opinion this is a private medical matter between a woman planning to conceive and her medical care givers. It has nothing to do with marriage. Just because someone is married doesn't mean they are going to conceive (and likewise plenty of people conceive without getting married).

The law just doesn't make any sense to me given contemporary circumstances.

Seems like a waste of time, money and a violation of privacy. But I understand not everyone will agree with me.

[sandnsea]

4. To verify rubella vaccine

Not so nefarious, different states have different blood test requirements.

http://www.co.monroe.in.us/clerk/forms/premaritalexaminationcertificate.pdf#search=%22indiana%20premarital%20examination%22

[Pacifist Patriot]

13. That's not the statement that got me going. I understand...

the rubella concern, although I'm not sure why my friend who had to have a complete hysterectomy at 19 years of age had to fulfill the blood test requirement, but whatever.

I'd like to know what this is supposed to mean "Applicant presents evidence of sterilization."

[TheWraith]

14. If the person is sterilized, there's no issue about Rubella

Therefore no reason to test for an immune response to it.

Also, as I recall, some states have conditions where it becomes legal to marry certain people, such as distant relatives, if reproduction isn't possible.

[Pacifist Patriot]

16. I understand that. I still think it's silly and invasive. See post above

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2178718&mesg_id=2179478

[sandnsea]

18. That's a different argument

Whether people think it's silly to require women of child bearing years to have a rubella shot is different than implying women can't get married unless they're proven breeders.

[Pacifist Patriot]

25. Yes I know. Which is why I asked the question.

The law in Indiana, if it is even still on the books, and the form's one statement rubbed me the wrong way. I have learned much through this thread and I appreciate that.

[EFerrari]

9. We did in CA when I got married.

But, we didn't have fifty states then, lol. I'm not sure if we still have it.

[LibertyLover]

10. Not in Maryland

There is no such requirement in Maryland. There is a brief waiting period between the time you apply for a license and the time it is issued, between 3 days and a week if I remember correctly. And my husband did have to bring proof that his divorce from his first wife was finalized.

[Bandit]

11. In Alaska one used to need a blood test but no longer

I do believe that could be fought in court and found unconstitutional. Equal rights and all. IMO

[FILAM23]

15. I do believe your friend is taking things

out of context.
They have to have a blood test to show immunity to rubella OR present evidence of
sterilization. It's one or the other not both. It is a child health issue.

[Pacifist Patriot]

17. I've wrapped my brain around that, BUT...

I disagree it is a child health issue these days, at least not a particularly effective way to address it. Otherwise every woman would have to be tested upon the onset of menses. Procreation does not require marriage and marriage needn't result in procreation. I realize many will disagree with me, but it seems to be a ridiculous requirement for a marriage license in this day and age.

[lukasahero]

23. But what about women like me?

Of child bearing age, not sterilized but married to a man who is because we don't want to have children? Seriously. Would we have to sign an oath or something?

[Ariana Celeste]

19. I live in Indiana and last I heard that's not true anymore

I've been wanting to get married and have looked up a lot of info- none of the websites that say this are Indiana govt. websites, for one thing. My county website says nothing about it. Considering all the other sites, I called a local clinic and a woman there told me it is no longer required.

On edit, this is the info from my county website: http://www.co.hendricks.in.us/portals/0/dept_clerksoffice/documents/Fee-marriage%20license.htm

[lonestarnot]

20. Shista! This is sick!

[dogday]

21. I live in Texas

just went to the JP, gave them our information.. got the license and got married....

[uppityperson]

22. WA, they ask you this when apply for license...(too funny)

There we are in the public office, applying for marriage license (to take to ceremony to sign). "Do either of you have undisclosed STDs or are related to each other?" We looked at each other and broke out laughing. (Oh dang honey, there's something I forgot to tell you..., yah, she's mah cuzzin...)

Nothing about ability to fertilize/be fertilized though.

[bleedingheart]

24. When Mr. B and I got married we both had to go to a doctor

and get blood tests to rule out certain sexually transmitted diseases.