National News |
||
|
Seattle Gay News
click here to go to the main SGN website
posted Friday, July 23, 2010 - Volume 38 Issue 30 National Newsby Rex Wockner - SGN Contributing Writer Lambda fights for Arizona partner benefits Lambda Legal presented oral arguments in U.S. District Court in Phoenix on June 28 to block a law that strips domestic-partner benefits from Gay and Lesbian state employees. Arizona lawmakers eliminated health care for Gay state employees' partners in a budget bill signed by Gov. Jan Brewer last September. Lambda represents 10 state employees whose partners need the benefits. Wisconsin Gay marriage ban upheld Wisconsin's constitutional ban on Gay marriage and civil unions was upheld by the state Supreme Court on June 30. The court, in a 7-0 vote, disagreed with plaintiff Bill McConkey, who claimed the voter-passed amendment was invalid because the ballot initiative illegally presented voters with more than one issue simultaneously. The amendment says: "Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state." The court concluded: "[T]he marriage amendment ... was adopted in conformity with the separate amendment rule in Article XII, Section 1 of the Wisconsin Constitution, which mandates that voters must be able to vote separately on separate amendments. Both sentences of the marriage amendment relate to marriage and tend to effect or carry out the same general purpose of preserving the legal status of marriage in Wisconsin as between only one man and one woman." People For the American Way President Michael B. Keegan commented: "[This is] far from the final word on the subject. The court rejected a challenge to the state's marriage ban based on a narrow technicality, not a substantive challenge to its harmful content. I look forward to seeing further legal challenges to this ban." Sen. Graham says he's not Gay U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) told The New York Times on June 28 that suggestions he is Gay are untrue. "Like maybe I'm having a clandestine affair with Ricky Martin," he said. "I know it's really gonna upset a lot of Gay men - I'm sure hundreds of 'em are gonna be jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge - but I ain't available. I ain't Gay. Sorry." With assistance from Bill Kelley |
next story | |
| SGN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW -
Supreme Court candidate Stan Rumbaugh
------------------------------
Argentina's President Fernández signs Gay marriage bill------------------------------
Mississippi school pays damages to Constance McMillen------------------------------
GetEQUAL stops traffic on Vegas Strip, 8 arrested
------------------------------
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence raise $21,000 for charity
------------------------------
Local filmmaker teams with Waxie Moon for QTET fundraiser
------------------------------
Our third week in Johannesburg------------------------------
Sequins meet sponges at drag queen carwash ------------------------------
Brits will pass marriage equality, party leader says------------------------------
IGLHRC recognized by U.N.
------------------------------
Trans widow may lose everything in Texas lawsuit------------------------------
Congratulations to Team Gay City for STP Bicycle Classic
------------------------------
New gel may cut women's HIV infections in half------------------------------
AIDS 2010 Conference opens with protests, fears, and new plans------------------------------
Canady House pledges to help homeless------------------------------
Montana same-sex couples sue state for legal protections------------------------------
BREAKING NEWS ------------------------------ ------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
|
||