Out in America Features» domestic partnership

Cleveland Considers Extending Benefits To Gay Spouses

OIA Staff — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:12:46 +0000

The City of Cleveland, Ohio is considering a plan to offer domestic partner benefits to city employees. In 2009, the city approved a gay-inclusive domestic partnership registry which – despite offering no guaranteed benefits – became the subject of a legal challenge that claimed the registry violated the state’s 2004 voter-approved gay marriage ban. An [...]

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Facebook Now Recognizes Civil Unions, Domestic Partnerships

OIA Staff — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 22:11:21 +0000

Sometimes, websites like Facebook or Google make the tiniest change and it makes headlines. This is one of those times. Today, Facebook added two new options to its list of relationship status possibilities: “In a civil union” and “In a domestic partnership.” via. Read the full article @ Facebook Now Recognizes Civil Unions, Domestic Partnerships [...]

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NY Senate Democrats Extend Rights to LGBT Couples

OIA Staff — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:39:12 +0000

Legislation grants bereavement leave to employees in same-sex relationships The Senate Democratic Majority passed legislation (S6177A/Montgomery) that allows individuals involved in same-sex relationships to be granted funeral or bereavement leave from their place of employment. The bill, spearheaded by Senator Velmanette Montgomery (D-Brooklyn), extends this privilege that was previously granted only to employees that are [...]

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Court hears dispute on “everything-but-marriage” petition signers’ names

OIA Staff — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:36:02 +0000

Gay rights opponents are asking the Supreme Court to protect the anonymity of the signers of a petition that sought a vote to overturn Washington state’s domestic partnership rights. The case being argued at the high court Wednesday weighs the right to political speech, unfettered by fear of intimidation, against transparency in government. [ via [...]

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Ted Olson Opening Statement in Federal Challenge to Prop 8

OIA Staff — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:20:56 +0000

Ted Olson’s opening statement in the federal challenge to Prop 8: This case is about marriage and equality. Plaintiffs are being denied both the right to marry, and the right to equality under the law. The Supreme Court of the United States has repeatedly described the right to marriage as “one of the vital personal [...]

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Same-Sex Benefits For Federal Employees Will Cost $99 Million a Year. Is That a Lot?

OIA Staff — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:33:37 +0000

How best to scare America away from equality? Not by pulling at their heartstrings or delivering moral debates, but by talking about things in dollars and sense. So when the Congressional Budget Office — that nonpartisan federal agency charged with letting lawmakers know how expensive their bills will be — concluded the Domestic Partnership Benefits [...]

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Waiting on the Outcome – General Gayety

OIA Staff — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:24:13 +0000

My girlfriend Anne and I reached the point in our relationship where we wanted to make it official. Also, her employer wanted proof that she and I are really a couple and she hadn’t put me on her insurance because I looked pretty. Here in the state of Washington same-sex marriage is illegal, so making [...]

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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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LGBT & The Census count: What’s new, Why it matters.

OIA Staff — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:14:44 +0000

The Census doesn’t just collect information, it educates people. It helps people discover the trends that affect their daily lives. That part of the Census Bureau is called the 2010 Census Partnership and Data Services Program. The man who runs the program for the nation recently paid a visit to the Los Angeles region. Tim [...]

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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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Census Bureau: 150,000 Same-Sex Couples Report as Married in 2008

OIA Staff — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:10:12 +0000

Offering a preview of what’s to come in the 2010 Census, the Census Bureau has reported that almost 150,000 couples reported being in marriages last year: “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 [...]

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Act to Repeal DOMA Now

OIA Staff — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:41:08 +0000

Legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) may be introduced in the House of Representatives as early as next week. We must ensure that the President, congress, and our senate leaders speak out and co-sponsor a repeal of this discriminatory legislation. DOMA denies same-sex couples from receiving federal benefits, even in states where [...]

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Gay Rights in Danger as R-71 Makes Ballot in Washington State

OIA Staff — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:06:35 +0000

Officials are reporting that the Referendum 71 ballot measure pushed by anti-gay marriage foes has qualified for the November ballot in Washington State: “The secretary of state’s office said Monday that sponsors of Referendum 71 had 121,486 valid petition signatures – enough to put the newly expanded domestic partnership law to a public vote. A [...]

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Nevada to start taking domestic partnership applications

OIA Staff — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:10:58 +0000

The Nevada secretary of state’s office will take applications starting next week from couples who wish to register as domestic partners. Same- and opposite-sex couples who apply soon will receive their certificates of domestic partnership on Oct. 1. [ WPHL ] Read the full article @ Nevada to start taking domestic partnership applications Read more [...]

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