Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Associated Press: Mich. high court says gay partners can't get health benefits

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that governments and state universities can't offer health insurance to the partners of gay workers.
The court ruled 5-2 on Wednesday that Michigan's 2004 ban against gay marriage also blocks domestic-partner policies affecting gay employees at the University of Michigan and other public-sector employers.

The decision affirms an appeals court ruling.

Up to 20 public universities, community colleges, school districts and local governments in Michigan have benefit policies covering at least 375 gay couples. After the appeals court ruled last year, universities and local governments rewrote their policies to try to comply with the gay marriage ban — so the effect of Wednesday's decision is unclear.
Associated Press:

I hope everyone remembers that during the last election here in South Dakota we fought against the same ban here in South Dakota and almost defeated it.

One of the arguments we made was that it would have this same effect on health and other benefits for those same-sex couples living in long term relationships here in South Dakota. The religious fundamentalist promoters of the ban assured everyone that it wouldn't affect those benefits. Immediately after it passed in Michigan those same fundamentalists filed suite to prevent the state from issuing those benefits.

Not only are these so-called Christians ready to "Bear false witness" against LGBT people, but they seem to forget that going back on one's word is also lying. (O.M.)

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