SEATTLE (AP) � Seattle's mayor said Sunday the city will begin recognizing the marriages of gay employees who tie the knot elsewhere, although it will not conduct its own same-sex weddings. Mayor Greg Nickels was to sign an executive order Monday giving same-sex spouses of city employees all the benefits of heterosexual spouses, including health insurance.
[TB] Why doesn't Minneapolis do this? Sure the court said that the City can't give benefits to people who aren't married, but these folks are married.
Marriage will only be increasing as it's now happening in a couple of Canadian provinces and several US states. The list of places allowing marriage is growing every day.
Good question. On a related topic: Has Mayor Rybak or other Minneapolis or Hennepin County office holders spoken out publically against the anti-gay amendment to the state constitution. I sent the following to the entire city council and county board.
Dear City Council Members, Mayor Rybak and County Board members:
MM sent you the following:
Minnesota's Anti-Marriage Amendment (MAMA) (HF2798) will be heard in the House's Civil Law Committee on Tuesday, March 9. As you are aware, the City of Minneapolis bans discrimination against all citizens including Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender citizens. Please use your political power as the Mayor of Minneapolis, and the members of the Minneapolis City Council and Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, to work against the proposed constitutional amendment to bar the legal recognition of same-sex relationships. I oppose any efforts to write discrimination into our state's constitution.
EY: I second Ms email. I'd like to add this.
I urge the city of Minneapolis and Hennepin County take a strong public stand against writing discrimination against some Hennepin County and City of Minneapolis Taxpayers into the state constitution.
My Republican precinct caucus in Senate District 58 passed the following resolution:
Resolution to oppose both state and federal anti-family amendments
WHEREAS: The Republican Party is the Party of Abraham Lincoln
WHEREAS: There are some in the party who wish to pander to the worst in people and scapegoat a community for the challenges the institution of marriage faces.
WHEREAS: The so-called Defense of Marriage signed by the Defender of Marriage Bill Clinton and introduced by three times married Bob Barr has done nothing to reduce the high divorce rate.
WHEREAS: The state and the country have many challenging issues ahead including a war against terrorism, a war in Iraq, a loss of jobs at home and spiralling budget deficits.
WHEREAS: The Ohio Super DOMA recently passed in the Ohio Legislature has already had the effect of discouraging business from relocating to Ohio and put a crimp in Faculty Hiring at Ohio State University.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: The Republican Party of Minnesota is opposed to writing anti-gay discrimination into the Minnesota and Federal Constitution.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: The Republican Party of Minnesota urges the Bush campaign and Minnesota legislators focus on the real priority issues: solving the state budget deficit, keeping taxes in line, and efforts that will help grow the state's economy.
Eva Young
Near North
Minneapolis
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Blog is up:
http://lloydletta.blogspot.com
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