Out in America Features» domestic partners

Judge Upholds Wisconsin’s Domestic Partnership Registry

OIA Staff — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:44:21 +0000

A judge ruled Monday that Wisconsin’s domestic partnership registry does not violate the state’s constitutional amendment that prohibits marriage for loving and committed gay and lesbian couples. Signed into law by former Gov. Jim Doyle (D) in 2009, Wisconsin’s domestic partnership registry provides limited, but important, protections for gay and lesbian couples, including the ability [...]

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WA Legislature OKs out-of-state gay unions

OIA Staff — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:49:51 +0000

The state Legislature has approved a measure that would make Washington the fourth in the country to recognize out-of-state domestic partnerships. On a 28-19 vote, the Washington Senate cleared the last hurdle for the bill, which now heads to Gov. Chris Gregoire for a signature. via. Read the full article @ WA Legislature OKs out-of-state [...]

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Delaware Senate Introduces Civil Unions Bill

OIA Staff — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:16:41 +0000

“Today, members of the Delaware Senate have put forth a solid plan for providing critical benefits to same-sex couples and their children,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Now is the time to treat all Delaware families with equality and we call on the Delaware legislature to swiftly pass the civil unions bill.” “EQDE is proud [...]

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California Legislature Asks for IRS Same-Sex Partner Tax Equity

OIA Staff — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:38:16 +0000

The California legislature approved a resolution on Monday urging the IRS to tax married same-sex spouses and domestic partners the same as heterosexual married couples, the AP reports. VIA. Read the full article @ California Legislature Asks for IRS Same-Sex Partner Tax Equity Read more articles @ our blogBecome a fan on FacebookFollow us on [...]

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Google to Add Pay to Cover a Tax for Same-Sex Benefits

OIA Staff — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:14:37 +0000

On Thursday, Google is going to begin covering a cost that gay and lesbian employees must pay when their partners receive domestic partner health benefits, largely to compensate them for an extra tax that heterosexual married couples do not pay. The increase will be retroactive to the beginning of the year. On average, employees with [...]

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IRS adopts state domestic-partner property law in CA

OIA Staff — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:02:26 +0000

In a significant move for same-sex couples, the Internal Revenue Service has decided to recognize California’s community property law and treat the income earned by California registered domestic partners as community property income for federal income tax purposes. The new decision does not require or even allow California’s registered domestic partners to file their federal [...]

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Fedex reverses policy, now offers benefits to same-sex employees

OIA Staff — Wed, 26 May 2010 13:31:00 +0000

FedEx has made a positive step forward by offering protections to same-sex couples who are in domestic partnerships. The company also expanded their nondiscrimination policy to include transgender workers. [ via Queers United ] Read the full article @ Fedex reverses policy, now offers benefits to same-sex employees Read more articles @ our blogBecome a [...]

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Syracuse University’s Cash Payout for Partner Health Benefits

OIA Staff — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:00:18 +0000

To make providing health care benefits for the same-sex domestic partners of employees less of a tax burden — federal law, makes no concession for gay couples, whose relationships it doesn’t recognize — Syracuse University’s solution: Give $1,000 to each gay staffer participating in the program. [ via Queerty ] Read the full article @ [...]

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South Miami Approves Benefits for Domestic Partners

OIA Staff — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:23:33 +0000

Commissioners voted to grant benefit rights to city employees’ domestic partners, as Miami-Dade County and cities such as Miami have done. When South Miami Mayor Horace Feliu and Commissioner Valerie Newman are on the same page, you know the issue transcends politics. At Tuesday’s meeting, most commissioners voted to allow city employees’ domestic partners, whether [...]

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R.I. Lawmakers Override Governor’s Veto

OIA Staff — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:47:41 +0000

On their first day back at work, Rhode Island lawmakers overrode Governor Carcieri’s veto bill to grant funeral decision-making rights to same-sex couples. The House — and then the Senate — voted to override Republican Carcieri’s veto of a bill giving domestic partners the right to claim the bodies of — and make funeral arrangements [...]

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Washington’s Domestic Partner Law Goes into Effect Today

OIA Staff — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:07:33 +0000

Governor Christine : “The new law had been on hold pending the public vote, and will now go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, 30 days after the Nov. 3 General Election. The law is Senate Bill 5688 and applies to state-registered domestic partners, both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples where at least one partner [...]

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Wisconsin State Supreme Court won’t take case on domestic partnerships

OIA Staff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:05:19 +0000

The state Supreme Court refused to take a case asking the court to strike down the state’s new domestic partnership law for same-sex couples. The law took effect in August, allowing gay couples to register with counties so they could get about 40 of the 150 rights afforded married couples, such as hospital visitation rights. [...]

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And Now the Good News – R-71 Wins in Washington!

OIA Staff — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:18:07 +0000

With 100% of the vote counted. Everything but marriage wins 51.03%-48.97% After the results from Maine, we needed some positive news. County Results & Map Last updated on 11/4/2009 7:56 AM Referendum Measure 71 concerning rights and responsibilities of state-registered domestic partners Measure Vote Vote % Approved 511,651 51.03 % Rejected 490,948 48.97 % Total [...]

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The Senator Makes The Grade – General Gayety

OIA Staff — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:39:35 +0000

People in the public eye who utter inanities about gays keep me busy. I regularly poke into the verbal and written slams offered up by folks all around the world, from Oklahoma state legislator Sally Kern (Homosexuality is “the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism.”), to Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov (Pride [...]

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Microsoft Donates 100K to Approve R-71

OIA Staff — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:29:04 +0000

The Microsoft corporation has demonstrated its continued commitment to gay rights even in the face of conservative backlash. The organization donated 100,000 dollars to approve referendum 71 in Washington state which would keep domestic partnership rights. Thank Microsoft for continuing to being a corporate champion for equality: Voice: 1-800-Microsoft (642-7676) E-contact Feedback Form [ Queers [...]

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Arizona Governor Takes Away State Domestic Partner Benefits Says ‘God Has Placed Me in This Powerful Position’

OIA Staff — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:55:49 +0000

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has eliminated state domestic partner benefits a year after they were implemented, the Arizona Daily Star reports: “A bill signed by Gov. Jan Brewer redefined a ‘dependent,’ canceling the rule change made by Gov. Janet Napolitano that allowed domestic partners to receive benefits. Also eliminated are children of domestic partners, full-time [...]

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