Alaskan court rules in favor of lesbian and gay families

[Blue_In_AK]

http://www.themudflats.net/2011/09/19/alaska-court-rules-in-favor-of-lesbian-and-gay-families/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheMudflats+%28The+Mudflats%29

You don’t hear THAT every day. But today, we did.

It seems that the exclusion of same-sex couples from the property tax exemption that benefits seniors and disabled veterans violates that amazing document known as the Alaska Constitution. Glory be.

The ACLU was on the case and challenged the exclusion of same sex families on behalf of three Alaska couples who had been denied $150,000 in property tax exemptions. These couples are in committed relationships with a same-sex domestic partner, but until now have been treated as “roommates” rather than families.

Anchorage Superior Court Judge Frank Pfiffner ruled in favor of Schmidt and Schuh; Julie Vollick and Susan Bernard; and Fred Traber and Larry Snider.

“Gayle and I moved, built a home and a life here because we love what Alaska has to offer,” said Julie Schmidt, who has been with her partner Gayle Schuh for 34 years. “It hurt that the state that we value so much treated us like strangers. It is gratifying to finally have our relationship recognized.”

“The Court today again affirmed that it is unfair to treat same-sex couples – who are just as committed to each other as any other family – as second-class citizens,” said Roger Leishman, of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, who presented oral argument on behalf of the couples. “The Alaska Constitution establishes that no senior citizen or disabled veteran should be unfairly taxed just because they happen to be lesbian or gay.”

Baby step, but a step in the right direction.

More here: http://www.adn.com/2011/09/19/2077149/judge-backs-tax-exemption-for.html

[alp227]

1. take that, Sarah Palin! n/t

[xchrom]

2. Awesome. Nt