Judge Orders Feds to Pay Gay Couple

[Mari333]

Posted on Advocate.com November 18, 2009

A gay couple in Los Angeles was awarded compensation Tuesday for being denied spousal benefits by the federal government.

U.S. ninth circuit court of appeals judge Stephen Reinhardt ruled in February that federal public defender Brad Levenson and his partner, Tony Sears, were wrongfully denied health benefits on the basis of sexual orientation, which is banned by California law. He is now ordering the federal government to calculate and pay what it owes to him.














http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/11/18/Judge_Orders_Feds_to_Pay_Gay_Couple/

[David Zephyr]

1. It's called equal protection under the law. Not "special rights", just equal rights.

Equality: it's a "strict interpretation" in the U.S. Constitution by any standard.

[Mari333]

2. yep

[WillParkinson]

3. Unless you're a Republican...

Then it's "activism" and not interpretation.

[MattBaggins]

10. "Constructionism" vs. "Activism"

Strict Constructionism: Rulings I agree with
Judicial Activism: Rulings I disagree with

[Xipe Totec]

4. K&R - for being a small step in the right direction n/t

[tammywammy]

5. recommended

Equal rights for all

[BR_Parkway]

6. I wonder how far they can take that - will it apply to the other 1,000+

Federal rights they won't recognize? If the Feds owe them money for health benefits, what about IRS deductions? Doesn't seem like much of stretch at all - and considering the guy's a lawyer....

[SoCalDem]

7. This is why right wingers are really against gay marriage

Even though the gay population is small, the benefits not claimed by them, do add up.

Just look at social security.. two gay people live together, and when one dies, their SS $ goes back into the pool, unclaimed. If they were married, the spouse would have the pick of the higher SS income.. the same for some pensions that end when the person dies, unless there are spousal benefits..no spouse, no benefit.

at the bottom of most of the right wing issues is M O N E Y ..money they want to deny others.

[malaise]

8. Good

Equality and justice for all

[TexasObserver]

9. Recommend