ACLU sues Montana over same-sex rights
The Missoulian reports the ACLU filed a lawsuit July 22 on behalf of seven gay couples, who are demanding the state of Montana provide them the same rights married couples have in making decisions affecting their family’s health care, finances, inheritance and other matters.
The group maintains the state is violating the Montana Constitution by denying those rights to gay couples.
The 14 plaintiffs aren’t challenging an amendment to the state constitution that bans same-sex marriage, but want the state to acknowledge that gay couples have a constitutional right to equal protection.
Judge reverses block on partner benefits
Advocate.com reports a federal judge issued an injunction July 23 to prevent the state of Arizona from enforcing a law that would eliminate domestic-partner benefits for gay and lesbian state employees.
“Contrary to the State’s suggestion, it is not equitable to lay the burden of the State budgetary shortfall on homosexual employees, any more than on any other distinct class, such as employees with green eyes or red hair,” wrote U.S. District Judge John Sedwick.
The law, on track to go into effect Oct. 1, would have ended coverage for all unmarried domestic partners and their children.
Sonoma Co. settles discrimination suit
The San Jose Mercury News reports Sonoma County has agreed to pay $600,000 to settle a lawsuit by an elderly gay man who said social workers kept him from seeing his dying partner in the hospital.
Clay Greene, 78, of Guerneville, Calif., claimed the county discriminated against him based on sexual orientation.
Greene said social workers denied him visitation rights to see his partner, Harold Scull, despite signed wills, medical declarations and powers of attorney naming each other as spouses. The couple was not married nor registered as domestic partners.
The suit also alleged that after Scull’s death, social workers forced Greene into a nursing home and sold their property.
The county’s lawyer denied the discrimination claims but admitted mistakes in selling the property.
The county said Greene was kept away from Scull because of domestic-violence allegations.
— Larry Nichols