The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, condemned
the February 2nd ruling by the Michigan Court of Appeals that bars state and
local governments and public universities from offering benefits to
their employees based on domestic partnerships.
"Today's vote by the Michigan Court of Appeals is disappointing and
sends a chilling reminder of how our families suffer when states enact
broad, vague, and discriminatory laws," said Human Rights Campaign
president Joe Solmonese. "This decision demonstrates the destructive
power of these amendments by unfairly singling out a group of Americans
and stripping them and their families of basic protections like health
benefits and domestic violence laws."
The court concluded that the state's marriage amendment, which makes the
marriage of an opposite-sex couple "the only agreement recognized as a
marriage or similar union for any purpose," prevents public employers
from granting benefits to the domestic partners of their employees
because doing so constitutes state recognition of domestic partnerships,
a union similar to marriage.
"Across the country, Americans have repeatedly demonstrated their
support for equal compensation and equal benefits for all hardworking
employees," said Solmonese. "When top employers like the University of
Michigan cannot attract the best possible workforce because they are
hampered by discriminatory laws, our entire country loses out."
The decision is likely be appealed to the Michigan Supreme Court.
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