I
___
WWInews
_________ January 7.2005 • JlWt Mt] j y
oOQ
Inc., a Montana-based queer
advocacy
organization
whose members include
employees and domestic
partners of employees of the
university system. The law
suit charged that it was
unconstitutional to deny
same-sex couples access to
health insurance, disability
coverage and other benefits
available to married employ
ees and even to committed
opposite-sex couples who
signed an affidavit of com
mon law marriage.
“This is truly a landmark
decision,” said Holly Jo
Franz, one of the attorneys
From left, Montana plaintiffs Carol Snetsinger, Nancy Siegel,
who argued the case. “The Adrianne Neff and Carla Grayson
court has made it clear that
same-sex couples must be respected.”
A total of 160 positive queer bills were intro
duced in state legislatures in 2004.
R eport E xamines 2004
Of these, several important bills became
Q ueer S tate L egislation
law, granting hospital visitation rights in New
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation
York and creating domestic partnership reg
released a new report Dec. 21 examining the full
istries with a handful of rights in New Jersey
breadth of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender and Maine.
state legislation in 2004. The 13 states that
“Even in the midst of anti-marriage attacks,
passed anti-marriage constitutional amend several state legislatures moved forward with
ments last year have been well-publicized, but
providing basic rights for same-sex couples and
this new report— Equality from State to State— their children,” said Kilboum.
points out the 15 amendments that were defeat
Aside from relationship-related legislation, a
ed in state legislatures in 2004-
key victory in 2004 was the addition of gender
Moreover, this report discusses the almost
identity and expression to Connecticut’s hate
200 bills that did not deal with marriage hut
crime law. The bill was passed 33-0 in the Sen
nonetheless affect queers and their families.
ate and 143-72 in the House before being signed
“A complete picture of the past year includes
by the state’s Republican governor.
15 anti-gay amendments defeated in the states,”
“The outlook for state legislation in 2005
said Seth Kilboum, HRC national field director.
looks mixed,” said Kilboum. “We will continue
“Where the legislative process provided a forum
to fight attacks on our families, but 2005 will see
for deliberative and thoughtful conversation, a
some victories for GLBT people.”
majority of these anti-marriage amendments
Anti-marriage constitutional amendments
were defeated.”
already have been pre-filed in South Carolina,
Republican state Sen. David Adkins played a
Texas and Virginia. However, the California
key role in defeating Kansas’ anti-marriage
Legislature will consider a bill to extend mar
amendment. He said at the time: “Why are we
riage equality to same-sex couples, and several
putting a sign outside the clubhouse door that
other state legislatures are expected to work on
says, ‘No homosexuals allowed?’ I just think
securing rights and responsibilities for same-sex
Kansas is better than that.” Other legislators who
couples and their children.
spoke out against adding discrimination to their
Additionally, a number of states will consid
state constitutions are highlighted in rhe report.
er nondiscrimination and hate crime bills that
The report also examines whether party
include protections for queers. JM
makeup and regional location of state legisla
tures correlated with the number and types of Compiled by News Editor S arah DOUGHER,
queer-related legislation considered.
who can be reached at sarah@justout.com.
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