A couple weeks after the election, my Los Angeles-based credit union which serves folks in entertainment industry instituted a brand new security policy which involves answering three questions. One is was

What is your spouse’s first name?

WTF?! Millions of Californians had just lost the right to marry, while the marriages of thousands others hung in balance. Then there was the absurdity  of asking that question in a town famous for its divorces. (Maybe the question should have been "What was your first spouse’s name?" At least then I would have laughed before going "Uh, hey heterocentric bank, how many of my friends–and your clients– can’t get married today?")

Actually it could be a pretty hurtful question for the newly widowed or divorced to see as well. Even though we’re on good terms, I wouldn’t want to have to type my ex’s name anytime I need to access my online services. I mean, really!

So I called and said something to the customer representative about Prop 8 and how that question was discriminatory. She said she would speak to her manager about it, and today while checking my balance I saw the list of security questions. The spouse query had been removed.

But instead of having to force that tiny change, I wish Prop 8 hadn’t passed.