AZ: Lambda Legal Sues Arizona Over Stripping of Health Benefits from Gay/Lesbian Couples

A gay-rights group has filed suit seeking damages for state employees whose families will lose their health-care coverage following the elimination of domestic-partner benefits. House Bill 2013, signed into law this year by Gov. Jan Brewer, eliminates health benefits for domestic partners effective next year. The move will strip benefits from about 800 people, saving the state an estimated $3.3 million when it takes effect next October. Lambda Legal, an advocacy group based in New York, filed a federal lawsuit in Phoenix on Tuesday on behalf of 10 state employees protesting the elimination of their benefits. The employees work for the Arizona Highway Patrol, the State Depart- ment of Game and Fish and state universities. Full Story from the Arizona Republic: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/11/18/20091118partnerbenefits1118.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resourcesi in Arizona.

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Mutual Commitment Registry Proposed for Mesa, Arizona

When Stephanie Zinn rushed her partner, Meta Goforth-Zinn, to an East Valley emergency room, hospital staff asked Stephanie to call Meta's family. Stephanie said, "I am her family." But no one would listen to her until she produced a medical power of attorney document giving her the right to be at the bedside of her longtime lesbian partner. "Before she brought that piece of paper, Stephanie got absolutely pushed out of the room," Meta said. "It was basically a case of 'Who are you?' and 'Get out of here.'" To Goforth-Zinn, that incident was a reminder that people in relationships like hers, many of whom don't have such papers handy, can have a hard time with visitation rights in hospitals and the right to make medical decisions for their loved ones. That's why the Queen Creek couple is in full support of ongoing discussions, in a fledgling stage at this point, about instituting a mutual commitment registry in Mesa. The registry, as envisioned by proponent Denise Heap, chairwoman of the East Valley LGBTQs for Change organization, would allow for hospital visitation rights and the right for a registered individual to be able to make medical decisions for a partner. Full Story from the East Valley Tribune: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/145864

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Arizona.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.