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The Wisconsin Supreme Court refused to hear a case asking it to strike down the state’s new domestic partnership law for gay and lesbian couples. The law took effect in August and allows gay and lesbian couples to register with counties while extending 40 of the 150 protections married couples enjoy. The law was challenged by the anti-gay organization, Wisconsin Family Action.
While the court did not say why it refused to hear the case, it’s rare that the court takes on cases filed directly to it.
Related Media Coverage:
State Supreme Court won't take case on domestic partnerships The Journal Sentinel November 4, 2009 http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/69162072.html
The Michigan House Judiciary Committee, on Wednesday, voted to send legislation before the full house that would expand civil-rights laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity. The 9-5 split vote, comes after Kalamazoo successfully passed a similar non-discrimination ordinance and after President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. hates Crimes Act.
“With the passage in Kalamazoo last night by overwhelming majority of voters of a similar law, it is time to move this bill,” said Judiciary Chairman Mark Meadows, an East Lansing Democrat. Related Media Coverage: Citing Kalamazoo vote, Mich. House panel sends civil rights law to floor The Detroit News -- November 4, 2009 http://michiganmessenger.com/29549/citing-kalamazoo-vote-house-panel-sends-civil-rights-law-to-full-house
Citing Kalamazoo vote, Mich. House panel sends civil rights law to floor The Michigan Messenger-- November 4, 2009 http://www.tips-q.com/news/msm/1562724-citing-kalamazoo-vote-mich-house-panel-sends-civil-rights-law-floor
Michigan House Speaker Pro Tem Pam Byrnes, on Wednesday, introduced a resolution to roll back the state’s ban on gay and lesbian couples, allowing them to marry.
“This really boils down to treating all people with the dignity and respect everyone deserves,” Byrnes said. “Last time I checked the Golden Rule didn’t say ‘treat others how you’d like to be treated, unless they are gay or lesbian.”
The resolution will need to clear both the House and Senate to get the proposal on the ballot in Michigan next year.
Related Media Coverage: The Michigan Messenger -- November 4, 2009
“Byrnes calls for repeal of Michigan’s same-sex marriage ban” http://michiganmessenger.com/29570/byrnes-calls-for-repeal-of-michigans-same-sex-marriage-ban
State lawmaker pushes for same-sex marriage in Michigan -- The Detroit News November 4, 2009 http://www.detnews.com/article/20091104/POLITICS02/911040443/1024/POLITICS03/State-lawmaker-pushes-for-same-sex-marriage-in-Michigan
As some conservative Christian groups make claims that hate crimes legislation could infringe on religious freedoms, a US-based Orthodox Jewish group, Agudath Israel of America, weighed in this week in support of hate crimes legislation pending in Congress. Although Agudath Israel of America often takes conservative stances on social issues, the group cited the stabbing death of Yankel Rosenbaum, a Hassidic Jew, in the 1991 Crown Heights riot for its position. The prosecution of the 1991 murder was hindered by a weaker hate crimes law. The current bill has sections that directly address those limitations. The group specifically rejected Christian claims that the legislation would criminalize preaching against homosexuality even though moral concerns had led them to resist the legislation in the past. Rabbi Abba Cohen, the group’s Washington director and counsel said the current legislation “goes far in alleviating these concerns, directly addressing the issues of religious belief, expression and association in four specifically-targeted provisions. Each preserves a religious adherent’s constitutional right to the free exercise of religion and makes clear that the legislation cannot be construed to infringe, prohibit, diminish or burden that right.” Related Media Coverage: The Yeshiva World – October 21, 2009 “Agudath Israel declares support for hate crimes bill” http://theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/40929/Agudath+Israel+Declares+Support+for+Hate+Crimes+Bill.html Jewish Week – October 22, 2009 “Agudath Israel endorses hate crimes bill, rejects claims of Christian right” http://jewish-politics-ny.com/2009/10/21/ agudath-israel-endorses-hate-crimes-bill-rejects-claims-of-christian-right/ JTA Global News Service of the Jewish People – October 22, 2009 “Agudath Israel backs hate crimes bill” http://blogs.jta.org/politics/article/2009/10/22/1008665/ agudath-israel-backs-hate-crimes-bill Five Towns Jewish Times – October 22, 2009 “Agudath News” http://www.5tjt.com/news/read.asp?Id=5104
Despite the ACLU of Mississippi’s promise of legal action should the district refuse to permit the photo of senior Ceara Sturgis, Clopton told the Copiah County Courier he would uphold the district’s stance based on legal precedent from federal court decisions which have ruled in their favor on this same issue in the past.
The ACLU argues that Sturgis’ rights to freedom of expression and equal treatment under the law have been violated. However, following the district’s latest announcement, Sturgis and her mother are still deciding whether to enter into litigation over the matter. Regardless of legal proceedings, Sturgis told reporters, “I am taking a stand for all the other people who weren’t allowed to be in the yearbook because of the same situation, and maybe I can win this.”
Related Media Coverage: ClarionLedger.com – October 18, 2009 “Copiah School Upholds Photo Ban” http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20091018/NEWS/910180361/School+stands+by+decision+on+photo
Yesterday Obama nominated Minneapolis’ assistant police chief Sharon Lubinski as the next U.S. Marshal for the District of Minnesota, making her the first openly-gay U.S. Marshal nominee.
Lubinski has served in the Minneapolis Police Department for 20 years, and previously in the Dane County Sherrif’s Department in Madison, WI. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who originally recommended Lubinski, said her “mix of experience managing a large, urban police department and working in a more rural sherriff’s office sets her apart and makes her uniquely qualified to serve in this new role.”
Lubinski, who must still be confirmed by the Senate, would become only the second currently active female U.S. Marshal in the country. The 94 U.S. Marshals protect federal court officials, buildings, and witnesses in each of their respective districts.
The New York Times – October 13, 2009
“Obama Picks MN Woman as First Openly Gay US Marshal”
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/13/us/politics/AP-US-First-Gay-Marshal.html?_r=1
Minnesota Post – October 13, 2009
“Minneapolis Assistant Police Chief Nominated as Minnesota’s U.S. Marshal”
http://www.minnpost.com/cynthiadizikes/2009/10/13/12462/minneapolis_assistant_police_chief_nominated_as_minnesotas_us_marshal
Minnesota Daily – October 13, 2009
“Minneapolis Assistant Police Chief Nominated as US Marshal”
http://www.mndaily.com/2009/10/13/minn-asst-police-chief-nominated-us-marshal
©2009 Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation