Same-sex Health Benefits Banned in Michigan

[smartestnumber5]

A Michigan Court of Appeals has just ruled that the constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage enacted 2 years ago also prohibits same-sex health benefits because of the words "or similar union for any purpose."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4522500.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/03/us/03michigan.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Word around campus is that the ruling won't go into effect until the end of the year, so hopefully the ruling will be overturned on appeal by then. The university has also promised that they would change their policy on domestic partner health insurance to get around any such ruling. I only hope they'll make good on their promise or we'll need to be finding new health insurance for GF

 

[Viki]

Yikes, this is just EVIL

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

Totally do NOT understand this mindset.

 

[Uncle Remus]

A Michigan Court of Appeals has just ruled that the constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage enacted 2 years ago also prohibits same-sex health benefits because of the words "or similar union for any purpose."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4522500.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/03/us/03michigan.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Word around campus is that the ruling won't go into effect until the end of the year, so hopefully the ruling will be overturned on appeal by then. The university has also promised that they would change their policy on domestic partner health insurance to get around any such ruling. I only hope they'll make good on their promise or we'll need to be finding new health insurance for GF

That just sets up the need for the same sex marriage ammendments!
So LGBTs can be afforded equal rights instead of special benefits, imho.
Course, I'm more for civil unions so one can stay outta the church.
Those who wanna get married in the church can, but that church oughta have the say so.

 

[Psychometrika]

Private companies in Michigan are not impacted. They can do as they please. Unfortunately all state agencies, including universities, are harmed. The case is already being appealed.

My university, in the incredibly backward state of ohio, finally gave us benefits. They got around the insane DOMA amendment by providing the same benefits to same-sex and unmarried heterosexuals. Are we treated as second class? Yes. We pay more than traditional marrieds. But right now, it's what we could get.

 

[RickinNYC]

Totally do NOT understand this mindset.

I can. It's not too difficult, nor is it a stretch, to understand the mindset of completely ignorant, if not outright hateful, biased people. Just put yourself into a dark mood and think bad thoughts about people you'd rather not want to sympathize with, then bash your head with the stupid hammer and viola!

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

Totally with you -- clear up until your new siggie --Love the okraphobe, hate the okra.

Oh man ...Deep-fried okra is food of the gods...

 

[RickinNYC]

Totally with you -- clear up until your new siggie --Love the okraphobe, hate the okra.

Oh man ...Deep-fried okra is food of the gods...

Get thee away from me Satan!

 

[Chuck S]

Get thee away from me Satan!

You'd never survive in Texas, Rick. You'd starve to death. Ever try pannas? A German dish made from corn meal and hog's head? Or how about menudo (the food, not the boy band)?

 

[RickinNYC]

I'll actually eat a lot of things, but anything that is filled with snot like said okra will never find it's way on my plate.

And yep, love menudo. The food, not the boy band.

But will NOT look at food like a pig's head. That just wrong. I don't mind eating whole fish, but if it's bigger than trout, my food best not be lookin' back at me.

 

[mickeyfan1]

While the impact of the ruling is sad, the actual ruling could be a wake up call for those people who think that equal rights for all really means equal rights for some and unequal rights for others. The issue of health benefits never seems to hit the bottom line for most people. If someone was to do a study of what it cost society in cold hard cash by denying benefits, maybe people would see that it is no threat to them do allow 2 people in a committed relationship t have the same health and other benefits as those who just happen to fit the so called "Correct" marital relationship.

It all comes down to discrimination, which is fueled by both ignorance and fear.

Okra may also play a part, but the jury is still out a the Taste of the South Food Festival and may be at this time over dosed on Grits, Gravy and Fried Chicken.

 

[Psychometrika]

Hopefully the whole "married" "single" etc. benefits problem will be taken care of when the money grubbing corporations line the palms of congress enough to endorse some sort of universal health coverage. It's pretty bad that such discrimination exists, but it's also pretty bad that in a land populated with greasy Quiznos in every pot we can't afford what should be a basic human right - particularly in a country that claims, and I use that sarcastically, to be religious. I fail to see how Yaweh, Jesus, etc. would have said "sorry babe, without insurance you'll just have to live with those bubonic boils."

Hang in there Michigan. When the gay brain drain start up anew, they may realize that being considered a modern economy means respecting diversity or losing their best and brightest. Remember more gay folk (and I'm lumping us all GLBT together) are better educated than the general population, my a considerable degree. The male half also make more money, on average, and have more spending cash. I wish I could say that for the women as well, but we're still backwards in that department too. But take heart! There are more women than men at university now, discounting some specific professions.

It took 20+ years of fighting to win in Toledo...but we got there, at least in part.

 

[rentayenta]

I can. It's not too difficult, nor is it a stretch, to understand the mindset of completely ignorant, if not outright hateful, biased people. Just put yourself into a dark mood and think bad thoughts about people you'd rather not want to sympathize with, then bash your head with the stupid hammer and viola!

Exactly! But even still, I cannot wrap my brain around the ignorance- it's mind boggling at best.


I think having same sex benefits banned is horrific at best.

 

[Dizzlicious_Dizney]

Evil!
I just dont understand.

 

[easleygrls]

Also...not only can I not get benefits for DP at work, but when a job came open I was told she couldn't apply because it would violate the nepotism policy. Why is it always the other side that gets to have their cake and eat it too? I want cake! Now!