This lawsuit is in hopes of “getting a ruling setting a precedent that would block domestic partner benefits at other state universities.” The attorney representing AFA of Michigan, Patrick Gilen, said, “The purpose of the suit is to ensure that courts rule on the constitutionality of domestic partner benefits at public universities.”
Gary Glenn, president of AFA of Michigan, goes on to say, “If MSU doesn't allow an employee to put her elderly grandmother or little sister on the university's health insurance, how do they justify singling out only employees involved in a homosexual relationship for special treatment?"
In rebuttal Deborah Labelle, an attorney for the ACLU of Michigan, said, “health insurance and other benefits are given to children and other dependents, not just married people.” Labelle also commented on the pending suit, “the suit is pointless because the state appeals court already is set to rule on the issue.”
This whole predicament started back in 2004 when “Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment that made the union between a man and a woman the only agreement recognized as a marriage ‘or similar union for any purpose.’”
In 2005 twenty-one gay couples “sued the state after Republican Attorney General Mike Cox issued an opinion interpreting the amendment as barring domestic partner benefits in future contracts.”
I am continually amazed by organizations like AFA of Michigan and those who support it. They are endorsing a Draconian way of life by imposing their financial and political power over the ability for all people to receive the same “benefits” and “rights”. Just because an employee, a key and integral part of the college, of Michigan State University is gay then health and other benefits are denied to that person’s partner? I would like to know what anyone affiliated with AFA of Michigan and other similar organizations would do if their child, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin, nephew or other family member were gay and just wanted to get benefits for the person they loved and was spending their life with?
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