Weekly Political Roundup

• Congressman Marty Meehan (D-MA) re-introduced the Military Readiness Enhancement Act to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on LGBT personnel. The Huffington Post has a good article by Eric Alva, the first Marine wounded in Iraq, about why he came out and is supporting this legislation.
• In Largo, Florida, City Manager Steve Stanton was fired after announcing plans to transition from male to female. The leader of Equality Florida was then arrested for doing nothing more than handing out a flyer saying “Don’t discriminate” at a hearing before the Largo City Commission. Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force have condemned the firing and the arrest.
• The Hawaii State House Judiciary Committee declined to vote on a proposal to legalize same-sex civil unions.
• The Iowa House passed an anti-bullying bill that now heads to the governor, who is expected to sign it. The legislation protects those who are bullied because of sexual orientation or gender identity, among other things. New Jersey enacted a similar law last week.
• Maryland lawmakers are considering a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Many doubt the amendment will have much support, but others believe this could change if the state Court of Appeals rules in a pending case on whether marriage is only between a man and a woman.
• Opponents of same-sex marriage in Minnesota are pushing lawmakers to oppose a bill that would let cities and counties offer health insurance to their employees’ same-sex partners. Jeff Davis, president of Minnesota Citizens in Defense of Marriage, said “The sponsors of this bill are attempting to give homosexuals special rights by granting them marital privileges without the responsibilities of a marital contract.” So let us marry. Problem solved.
• The Oregon legislature saw two LGBT-rights bills introduced. The Family Fairness Act would provide many of the benefits of marriage, without the name and without a ceremony. The Oregon Equality Act would amend the state’s non-discrimination laws to include sexual orientation.
• Some of the largest employers in Rhode Island say they don’t expect any major changes in the benefits for LGBT employees after the state Attorney General said Rhode Island should recognize same-sex marriages performed in Massachusetts.
• The Virginia Court of Appeals ruled that a same-sex couple could be living together in a situation “similar `but not identical in form and substance’ to a marriage.” The ruling stems from an opposite-sex couple’s divorce, when the ex-husband refused support payments to his ex-wife, claiming her new relationship with a woman was “analogous to marriage,” and thus voided the terms of the support contract.
• The Washington State Human Rights Commission ruled that the state can’t enforce laws banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation when it comes to private employers’ benefit plans, because federal laws render the state ones invalid.
• On a happier note, the Washington State Senate passed a domestic partnership bill that would provide enhanced rights for same-sex couples. It is expected to pass the House and be signed by the governor. Unmarried heterosexual couples would also be eligible if one partner is at least 62.

Around the world:

• Australian Prime Minister John Howard is considering granting same-sex couples equal rights in areas such as welfare, superannuation and tax, including equal access to the Medicare safety net and the couples’ rate threshold for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. The Cabinet and Treasury will evaluate the proposal, though some are concerned about the cost to taxpayers.
• The Supreme Court of Canada gave full survivor benefits under the Canada Pension Plan to those whose same-sex spouses are deceased. Supporters of the ruling were disappointed, however, that the court decided benefits should only be paid out back to July 2000, when the government passed laws to eliminate discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
• Canadian Liberal Leader Jean Charest said voters should not be discussing his Parti Québécois opponent André Boisclair’s sexual orientation as part of the provincial election campaign. Would that all politicians were this fair minded. (Thanks, April!)
• A proposed Nigerian law banning same-sex marriage is a threat to democracy, says Human Rights Watch. The law would mean that anyone who speaks out or forms a group supporting LGBT rights could be imprisoned.
• A U. K. magistrate who claimed that as a Christian, he should be allowed not to hear adoption cases involving same-sex couples has failed to win an employment tribunal.