|
July 25, 2007
Group will rally against domestic partner benefits
By Art Jester
ajester@herald-leader.com
About 250 people are expected to gather Monday in Frankfort in opposition to domestic partner benefits in Kentucky’s public universities and agencies.
The “Rally to Protect Marriage” is set for 2 p.m. in the state Capitol Rotunda, said Kent Ostrander, executive director of the Family Foundation of Kentucky, the sponsor.
Ostrander said “we want to simply encourage the legislature to take up Senate Bill 5.” The legislation passed the upper chamber 28-6 in a truncated special session earlier this month.
A similar bill passed the Senate in the legislature’s regular session last winter, but died when a House committee deadlocked.
The bill is in reaction to domestic partner benefits that went into effect at the University of Louisville on Jan. 1 and at the University of Kentucky on July 1.
Domestic partner benefits would provide benefits to an employee’s same-sex or opposite-sex partner, outside of marriage. The key feature is health insurance.
The bill would limit access to state-sponsored health insurance to employees and their family members in a legal marriage. Kentucky’s constitution limits a legal marriage to that between a man and a woman.
Senate Bill 5 was sponsored by four Republican state senators: Vernie McGaha of Russell Springs, Jack Westwood of Crescent Spring; Dick Roeding of Lakeside Park and Gary Tapp of Shelbyville.
McGaha sponsored the similar bill last winter. Ostrander said the foundation is continuing a campaign against domestic partner benefits through its mail and e-mail lists.
State Rep. Bob Damron, D-Nicholasville, said he has received phone calls from 39 constituents in three days expressing opposition to domestic partner benefits. Damron opposes domestic partner benefits.
Ostrander said the foundation does not plan to file a lawsuit. “Right now we see this as a legislative matter,” he said.
In response, Christina Gilgor, executive director of the Kentucky Fairness Alliance, which represents the interests of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, said:
“The fact remains that denying Kentucky gays and lesbians the employee benefits that include health care insurance absolutely has a negative effect on them. These are real people, with real lives, who need health care.”
Posted by
jodycofer on 7/25/2007
|
|
Subscriptions
 (Read all e-mails)
Newsroom Archives
May 28, 2006
June 04, 2006
June 11, 2006
June 18, 2006
June 25, 2006
July 09, 2006
July 16, 2006
July 23, 2006
July 30, 2006
August 06, 2006
October 01, 2006
October 08, 2006
October 15, 2006
October 22, 2006
October 29, 2006
November 26, 2006
December 17, 2006
December 24, 2006
December 31, 2006
January 07, 2007
January 14, 2007
January 28, 2007
February 04, 2007
February 11, 2007
February 18, 2007
February 25, 2007
March 04, 2007
March 11, 2007
March 18, 2007
April 08, 2007
April 15, 2007
April 22, 2007
May 27, 2007
June 17, 2007
July 22, 2007
|
The Ampersand symbolizes the solidarity we are building through Friends & Family, and suggests the inclusiveness we are working toward. It reflects the idea that no one individual, legislator, organization, or city can carry all the water for equality. Our success lies in our solidarity. 