Mich. court bars benefits for same-sex couples, roiling Fla.
The Michigan Supreme Court, upholding a ruling from a lower court, said in a 5-2 decision Thursday that the state's 2004 constitutional ban on gay marriage also bars local and state governments and public universities from offering health-insurance benefits to same-sex domestic partners.
The decision is energizing opponents of a similar amendment on Florida's November ballot. Though the wording of Michigan's same-sex marriage ban is not identical to the proposed Amendment 2 facing Florida voters in November, opponents say it will pave the way for the same ban on domestic-partnership benefits.
''We have been clear and consistent that a court could rule this amendment could take away existing rights and benefits,'' said Derek Newton, campaign manager for Florida Red and Blue, the organization running the SayNo2 Campaign. ``The other side has denied that, and today the Michigan Supreme Court said a similar amendment in Michigan does in fact take away existing benefits and protections from people.'
Read the full story at MiamiHerald.com.
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. Obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules.
Comments are displayed newest first. If you would like to read a thread from beginning to end, select "Oldest first" from the drop down menu.
@Nyx.CommentBody@