June01,2007
BothsidesareclaimingvictoryinthebattleovertwoKentuckystate
universitiesofferingdomesticpartnerbenefitstoemployees'lovedones.
TheAttorneyGeneral'sOfficehasissuedanopinion,sayingUKandUofL
arecurrentlyviolatingthelawbyofferingbenefitstothelivein
partnersofemployees.
TheAGsaystheschoolsareplacingalegalstatusuponthoseemployees
that'stooclosetogaymarriage,andthus,violatesthestate's
constitutionalbanonsamesexmarriages.Buttheopinionalsosays"if
domesticpartnershipisnotdefinedintermsofalegalstatussimilarto
marriage,butisdefinedinamoreinclusivemanner,extendingsuch
benefitswouldbeconstitutional."Inotherwords,iftheschoolsdrop
allthepaperworkthey'rerequiriongdomesticpartnerstofillout,
they'dbeOK.
ChristinaGilgoroftheKentuckyFairnessAlliancesaysshe'sdelighted
withtheruling.Conservativegroupswhoarepushingalegalbanonstate
agenciesofferingdomesticpartnerhealthinsurancebenefitsto
employees,arealsopleasedbecause,theysay,itupholdstheirclaim
thatUKandUofLareofferingthemillegally.
Moreasthisstorydevelops.
Postedbymark.hebertonJune1,200712:11PM