Hear That SCOTUS? Corporate America Has Already OK'ed Gay Marriage

Many businesses offer benefits to domestic partners

Though the U.S. Supreme Court just began hearing arguments on whether gay couples should have the right to marry, major American corporations have already decided they're in favor. The Human Rights Campaign, a leading gay-rights group, found that among the 688 major employers rated in its most recent survey, 99 percent prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and 89 percent offer health benefits to domestic partners. Among the 20 largest publicly-traded firms on the Fortune 500 list, including General Motors, Bank of America, Ford and Verizon, 13 received a perfect 100 percent rating across a range of practices relating to gay rights. "The private sector was always ahead of the politicians," said Hilary Rosen, a Washington public relations consultant. Still, in 29 states it remains legal to fire or not hire someone on the basis of sexual orientation. (NBC News)

[SUBSCRIBE TO LOOP 21 RSS FEED]

Progress: Bill Clinton’s Mea Culpa On Gay Rights

Former president says the federal gay marriage ban that he signed should end

Well, it’s about time, Mr. President! In 1996, Bill Clinton signed into law the Defense of Marriage Act. It essentially prohibits legally married gay and lesbian couples from receiving the federal benefits (tax and health incentives) afforded to heterosexual couples. In an op-ed published by The Washington Post, former President Clinton acknowledges that the country as moved in a different direction on gay marriage and is advocating for DOMA to end. When Clinton signed the law, there were no states where gay marriage was legal. Today, 10 states and the District of Columbia have adopted marriage equality. Additionally, a narrow majority of Americans (51 percent) support legalization. Next month, the Supreme Court will decide if DOMA is constitutional. To read Clinton’s full the editorial, click here.

[READ MORE: Loop 21’s Coverage of LGBT Issues]

[SUBSCRIBE TO LOOP 21 RSS FEED]

Inching Towards Equality: Military Benefits Extended to Same-Sex Couples

Advocates call Panetta's policy switch “encouraging"

Military benefits have been extended to the same-sex spouses and unmarried partners of gay service members. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta extended the perks, all previously denied by the Pentagon, on Monday including child care services, member-designated hospital visits, and the issuing of military ID cards, which will give the spouses and partners access to on-base commissaries, movie theaters and gyms. However, the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) still blocks the Department of Defense from enacting more than 85 other benefits provided to heterosexual couples and their families, most notably medical and dental care, housing allowances, and death benefits. (NBC News)

[SUBSCRIBE TO LOOP 21 RSS FEED]

Supreme Court Will Take Up Gay Marriage After All

Landmark cases expected shape the future of marriage equality movement

The Supreme Court will take up California’s ban on same-sex marriage and the federal Defense of Marriage Act in its next term, court justices announced on Friday. They will review a federal appeals court ruling that struck down California’s voter-approved ban on gay marriages, as well as DOMA, the federal ban on health, pension and tax benefits, which are restricted to heterosexual couples. The cases are likely to be argued in March, with decisions expected in late June. The landmark cases are expected to shape the future of the marriage equality movement in America. Same sex marriage is already legal in nine states -- Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Washington – and the District of Columbia. Thirty-one states have amended their constitutions to prohibit same-sex marriages; the latest to do so was North Carolina, in May. (Associated Press)

[ALSO READ: Gay Community Had Best Election Night Ever]

[SUBSCRIBE TO LOOP 21 RSS FEED]

Supreme Court Takes No Action on Gay Marriage Cases

Could cease silence on Monday

Supreme Court justices met privately Friday to discuss whether they'd hear and rule on cases that could determine if there is a fundamental right to same-sex marriage. However, they emerged with no decision made. The Court could act on Monday when it is scheduled to release orders, or discuss the cases again in their next scheduled conference on next Friday. At issue in the cases is the Defense of Marriage Act, and California's Prop 8 which defines marriage as between a man and a woman, and passed with 52 percent of the vote. (ABC)

[SUBSCRIBE TO LOOP 21 RSS FEED]

Defense of Marriage Act Nixed by New York Appeals Court

Court became nation's second to do so

A New York appeals court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act on Thursday deeming it unconstitutional. The Act, passed in 1996, denies federal benefits to married same-sex couples, and says other states cannot be forced to recognize them. The ruling came in favor of Edith Windsor, an 83-year-old woman who sued the federal government for charging her more than $363,000 in estate taxes after being denied the benefit of spousal deductions. She argued that the Defense of Marriage Act discriminates against gay and lesbian couples, violating equal protection provisions of the U.S. Constitution. Since 1996, six states have legalized same-sex marriage but, because of the law, the federal government does not recognize them. (Reuters)

[SUBSCRIBE TO LOOP 21 RSS FEED]

DOMA: Federal Gay Marriage Ban May Head to SCOTUS

Law has been struck down in lower courts, gov’t no longer defending

The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to consider two legal challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as one between a man and a woman and denies gay couples certain tax and civil benefits. A DOJ official submitted the cased for review in July, but the petitions filed this week urge the high court to consider at least one of the gay marriage cases in the near future. One of the cases involves an 83-year-old lesbian, whose deceased partner left her with the responsibility of paying $363,000 in federal estate taxes, a penalty she wouldn’t have to pay if the U.S. government legally recognized her same sex marriage. DOMA has been struck down as unconstitutional in a lower federal district court. (Reuters)

[SUBSCRIBE TO LOOP 21 RSS FEED]