Badpuppy Gay Today

Tuesday, 27 May, 1997

Matt Fondel, a 42-year old computer consultant, is offering same-sex couples-- and anybody else--a legal alternative to marriage. Gay rights marriage activists in Hawaii and elsewhere are begging him to desist, fearing that his plan will sabotage their agendas.

"Relationship LLCs**.Marriage Perfected," says Fondel's ad, makes it "our position that limited liability companies, "LLCs", may prove to be the new marriage model. Marriage is presently available only to one man and one woman. LLCs are available to everyone, couples (of any sexual mix) who wish to pursue life together, a single parent family and groups of friends. Marriage is based on family law. Limited liability companies are based on partnership law and the legal arrangement its "members" agree to.

Fondel's website company is called Relationship LLC (http://www.relationshipllc.com) and Red Herring Magazine, which is geared to investors and investment bankers studying new business technology companies and trends, says that "The Web is changing the way people do business. It is also changing the way people get married. At least that's what Matt Fondel hopes."

Fondel, reportedly, says that gay activists have called his ISP 500 times. Red Herring reports that they are attempting to have Fondel's site removed "for fear that relationship LLCs will undermine their efforts to legalize marriage of same-sex couples."

Fondel's pitch, he says, offers "a particular kind of limited liability company created by people who generally are not married but who want a legally recognized relationship between them. A relationship which would be a legal entity that could buy a house, provide health insurance to its members, obtain credit cards, serve as the couple's consulting company... and file a tax return as a partnership. Limited Liability Companies are not taxed when classified as a partnership; rather the members pay tax, at the personal income rate, on the money they receive from the limited liability company. An LLC can be viewed as a partnership which has the advantage of a corporation in that the members/partners are not liable for the debts of the LLC."

The web site quotes Harper's Magazine as inspirational fodder: "Rather than consider the control of sexual behavior as a primary goal of marriage, why not leave issues of monogamy to the individuals and focus instead on marriage as the primary (though not the only) means whereby two people help each other and their dependents through life." (November, 1996)

Robert L. Sommers, writing in the San Francisco Examiner's Business Section calls LLCs: "An excellent investment vehicle for unmarried couples, families or friends who invest together, since they decide how to share their income and losses. And by using revocable living trusts, probate will be avoided upon an individual's death." (March 7, 1995).

According to observers, Matt Fondel is not currently getting rich from his plan. Only 100 persons have used it since he launched the idea on his web site last August. He receives approximately $50 monthly in referral fees from companies that file the LLCs.

He has also offered "relationship rings" which, he says, have not yet sold. These rings, in white ultrium, 10 karat and 14 karat yellow gold, cost between $170 and $440 dollars. A drawing of one such ring appears on his ad, and atop, in lower-case script appear the letters "rllc".

Fondel asks that persons wishing to unite under an LLC agreement must complete forms he provides as well as a $95 filing fee that is sent to The Company Corporation (1-800-542-2677) in Delaware. He tells those who apply to cite referral code "R-FON" when mailing the proper forms.

"Marriage is out of date," insists Fondel, "People need a new vehicle."