150,000 gay couples ‘married’
Yahoo News reports nearly 150,000 same-sex couples reported being in marriage relationships last year, more than the number of actual weddings and civil unions, according to the first U. S. Census figures released on same-sex marriages.
About 27 percent of the estimated 564,743 total gay couples in the United States said they were in a relationship akin to “husband” and “wife,” according to the Census Bureau tally, compared with 91 percent of the 61.3-million total opposite-sex couples who reported being married.
A consultant to the Census Bureau estimated there were roughly 100,000 official same-sex weddings, civil unions and domestic partnerships in 2008.
Analysts said the disparity is a reflection of same-sex couples in committed relationships who would marry if they could.
State drops partner benefits
The Arizona Daily Star reports domestic partners are being eliminated from state-employee benefits just a year after they were added to the benefits plan.
A bill signed by Gov. Jan Brewer redefined a “dependent,” canceling the rule change made by Gov. Janet Napolitano that allowed domestic-partner benefits.
Also eliminated are children of domestic partners, full-time students ages 23-24 and disabled adult dependents.
About 800 state employees are affected, according to the state administration.
Study: Workers hide orientation
365gay.com reports a majority — 51 percent — of LGBT workers continues to hide their identity from most or all coworkers, according to a new report from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
The report, “Degrees of Equality: A National Study Examining Workplace Climate for LGBT Employees,” found that, despite advances in employment policies at major U.S. corporations, a majority of LGBT workers continue to experience negative consequences because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.
Younger workers are even more likely to hide their LGBT identity – only 5 percent of LGBT employees ages 18-24 say they are totally open at work, compared to more than 20 percent of older cohorts.
The report is available for download at www.DegreesofEquality.org.
— Larry Nichols