Advertisement

Federal Judge Strikes Down Michigan Domestic Partner Health Care Ban

BTL Staff
Find the original story here

DETROIT –
A federal judge today ruled that a state law that would have barred many public entities from providing health insurance to the domestic partners of their employees is unconstitutional.
The ACLU and Kirkland & Ellis LLP challenged the law on behalf of five gay and lesbian public employees, as well as their long-term domestic partners, who either lost their health insurance or would have lost their insurance as a result of the law.
"We're breathing a sigh of relief right now," said Peter Ways, an Ann Arbor teacher whose partner would have lost his benefits. "This law was clearly meant to target families like ours and to make us feel as though we didn't count."
In striking down the law, U.S. District Court Judge David M. Lawson found it discriminated by forcing cities, counties, school districts, and community colleges to cancel family benefits for gay and lesbian employees in committed relationships while heterosexual employees had the ability to marry their partners to maintain health insurance. Same-sex couples cannot marry in Michigan.
"This law served no purpose to the state of Michigan other than to needlessly discriminate against hard-working families," said Kary L. Moss, executive director of the ACLU of Michigan. "It's hard to encourage talented people and their families to work for public employers in Michigan when they're denied the ability to take care of each other."
The law was particularly irrational because it allowed municipalities to provide health insurance coverage for other family members – cousins, aunts, nephews – but excluded same-sex domestic partners.
"The court rightly determined that this policy unconstitutionally discriminated against a minority of Michigan families," said Amanda C. Goad, staff attorney with the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Project. "All hardworking state employees and their families should have the peace of mind of being able to look after each other."

Advertisement
Advertisement

From the Pride Source Marketplace

Go to the Marketplace
Directory default
Every day is a celebration, a new breath, a new challenge, a new love...there is always something…
Learn More
Directory default
Progressive, diverse, inclusive, and welcoming Episcopal Church in Ann Arbor. We invite you to…
Learn More
Directory default
Comerica Incorporated is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, strategically…
Learn More
Advertisement