Well, you knew it wouldn't be too long before the clash between state and federal acknowledgement (or lack thereof) of same sex partnerships would create turmoil.
Rhode Island has just sent notices to domestic partners of state employees informing them that the health and insurance benefits they received are federally taxable income. And the state "forgot" to collect those taxes for the past five years. So now its time to pony up the money.
In a grand gesture, the state will not issue penalties on the overdue taxes and will allow payment plans. They can also issue short term loans. However, the loans might be considered further taxable income.
Here's what one Rhode Island resident had to say:
Rhode Island state employee Barbara Margolis and her partner said the issue is discrimination.
"It's a hard thing for me because I'm very grateful to the state is finally coming around and treating our relationship as an equal relationship as a married couple. At the same time, the federal government is coming back and saying, 'No, no, no. You're strangers to each other,'" Margolis told WJAR.
You tell 'em Barbara. This is one heck of a mistake. LGBT activists think the state should pick up the tab, but the state believes that would be unfair to other taxpayers.
How like the homo-hater run federal goverment to send in the IRS rather than acknowledge the disparity and do something constructive to address it.
Perhaps now that heterosexual partners are included in the big tax oops people will begin to recognize that anti-gay marriage efforts have a significant toll far beyond the LGBT community. This impacts heterosexuals, too. And the financial impact on low and moderate working families is most likely disproportionately high.
Too bad we aren't all Mary Cheneys with rich daddies who help us turn a blind eye to the realities facing working gay families in her daddy's hate-laden society. Traitor.
The homohating bigots are at it again, calling for a boycott on Microsoft and other companies supporting a LGBT civil rights bill in the Washington state legislature.
What can you say to this kind of overt hatred? Again, I cannot get my mind around the fact that these bigots and their sheep actually BELIEVE that homosexuals are the biggest threat to American families. Period. Not the economy, health care, the environment. Not even terrorism. Nope. Its us queers.
It appears that Microsoft has learned their lesson from their previous supplication at the foot of the mighty Christian wingers.
Then again here in Pennsylvania the legislature is buying into the same ridiculous argument.
This ain't funny, folks. The PA legislature, home of the midnight pay raise, has made protecting marriage from the homos a focus right now. Never mind that our fair city of Pittsburgh is crumbling around us while our beloved mayor plugs holes with political hacks. Never mind that GM is closing a plant and putting hundreds of people out of jobs. Never mind that Medicare Part D is a nightmare and thousands of older adults are swimming in a sea of bureaucratic crap. Never mind. Just sling some homohate around and people will <snap> forget all about the real problems that threaten Pennsylvania families.
Tell you legislators that this is a waste of resources, will hurt Pennsylvania families and is unfair to children. Go here to do something.
"We need to do a lot of education," Stacey Sobel, a lawyer and the executive director of the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights in Philadelphia, told 365Gay.com.
"A significant number [of legislators] who signed on as co-sponsors may not know the consequences and impact it would have," Sobel said.
Sam Hens-Greco named Campaign Field Director for Democratic Congressional Candidate Georgia Berner.
I'm not aware of Ms. Berner's position on LGBT issues but I'm going to find out. Her opponent in the primary, Jason Altmire, is prolife which of course opens the door to the concept of a right to privacy inherent in many LGBT protections.
Not to mention that a women's right to reproductive choices will already be under siege with the appointment of Justice Scalito.
We are already putting our hope in one anti-choice candidate (Casey) so I'm not comfortable putting my weight behind another.
I like Sam's style and I'm a big fan of Kathryn Hens-Greco. She's a former social worker which gives me faith she will serve our community well.
Georgia Berner is a Lawrence County business women running for Congress in the 4th Congressional District, the seat currently held by Melissa Hart. (The district includes all of Beaver and Lawrence County, the northern and some of the eastern tier of Allegheny County and a little bit of Butler, Mercer and Westmoreland County.)
I met Georgia and her husband Jim on the campaign trail this fall and I like them. I like Georgia's politics and I like her as a person. Georgia has the wisdom of a woman that has experienced deeply challenging times and understands the human emotions and frailties. Georgia is deeply concerned about the plight of our nation, this region and its people and wants to change the direction and the tone of the discussion. (www.georgiaberner.com)
Georgia's life story is also quite impressive.
About twenty years ago, Georgia's life changed overnight and she was forced to face life with a new reality. In April 1984, Georgia's husband died in a plane crash. At that time, Georgia's four children ranged in ages from 9 and 16.
Along with the tremendous responsibility of raising her family, Georgia also had the obligation to determine the future of their manufacturing business in New Castle. Despite no formal business background, Georgia decided to go to work at Berner International.
Since that time, Georgia has lead Berner International through a period of tremendous growth. The workforce expanded from 17 to 62, the revenues increased and they built a new building. But what has been truly remarkable was that this growth was done while also maintaining and expanding the benefits to the Berner employees. Georgia has been widely recognized for her innovative leadership in balancing both the management and labor interests at Berner.
My role will be to help manage the campaign as the Campaign Field Director and Senior Advisor. Georgia is committed to devoting a significant portion of her time and energy to ensuring that her campaign is a grassroots campaign and I am ready to help.
So, guess what?
I would like to know if you would like to help. (That's a big a surprise !! )
There are many a chore and duty that are calling.
You might want to attend a coffee to meet Georgia or you might want to just jump right in and host one yourself.
We have lots of letters to be stuffed and calls to be made.
Or maybe you want to take a breather for now but you just can't wait to be a Poll Worker on May 16th?
Feeling real frisky and want to contribute? The campaign's website has an online feature. www.georgiaberner.com
Seriously, I would be overwhelmed with appreciation if you would consider supporting and helping with Georgia's campaign. My goal is to bring the same (well almost the same) energy, focus and dedication to this campaign as I did to Kathryn's campaign.
Subject: Town Meeting: PA Constitutional Amendment
An amendment to the PA constitution has been proposed that would both limit marriage to one man and one woman and deny all unmarried partners a status "substantially equivalent" to marriage. The purpose of this meeting is to present what we currently know to the community, and begin to organize to defeat this amendment.
When: January 18, 2006 Where: GLCC in Squirrel Hill Time: 7PM
Prior to this meeting, we urge interested people to take any or all of the following actions: 1) sign the petitions against the amendment being circulated by several volunteers or online at http://www.steel-city.org/marriagepetition.php
2) call your state legislator and urge them to *not* cosponsor the amendment. You can find the name and contact information for your legislator at http://www.legis.state.pa.us/
This meeting is organized by Steel City Stonewall Democrats, working with the ACLU of PA, the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights, and the Value All Families Coalition.
History was made Tuesday, Jan. 3, when the first open Lesbian was named to the Arizona Senate. By a unanimous vote during their weekly meeting, the Pima County Board of Supervisors named Paula Aboud (r) to the vacant District 28 State Senate seat for the remainder of the term. Aboud succeeds Gabrielle Giffords, who resigned to run for the Democratic nomination for the open U.S. House seat for Congressional District 8.
<snip>
With Aboud?s appointment, Arizona will have three openly Gay and Lesbian individuals serving in the Arizona State Legislature, she will join Ken Cheuvront, D-Phoenix in the Senate and Robert Meza, D-Phoenix currently sits in the Arizona House.
> JOIN ACTIVISTS IN PROTEST AGAINST THE RADICAL RIGHT > Philadelphia SUNDAY JANUARY 8 at 7 PM AT "JUSTICE SUNDAY III" > > Jerry Falwell. > Tony Perkins from the Family Research Council. > James Dobson from Focus on the Family. > Rick Santorum. > > All coming to Philadelphia on Jan 8 to rally on "Justice Sunday" to pack the Supreme Court with right wing extremist judges. > > This event will be telecast live across the country. > > Happy New Year, everybody. > > "Justice" is the right to health care and effective HIV prevention, reproductive freedom, and freedom from homophobia and bigotry --not fundamentalist extremism from the extreme right wing. > > Join ACT UP Philadelphia, people of faith, people of conscience, women's health groups and other friends in Philadelphia on Sunday January 8, 2006 to protest "Justice Sunday III"-- a national rally for religious extremist groups who are fighting for a judiciary that is as reactionary as they are. > > Join us outside the Greater Exodus Baptist Church, at > 714 North Broad Street, Philadelphia at 6:30 pm for a spirited rally and protest
"Justice Sunday III" comes just one day before the Senate Judiciary Committee opens hearings for Supreme Court Justice Nominee Samuel Alito. > > "Justice Sunday III" will include notorious fixtures of the > radical right, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, > Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family, and Jerry > Falwell along with Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. > > These right wing religious groups exert extraordinarily powerful influence over White House policies on HIV prevention, global AIDS, science, sex education and public health. > > For more information please call ACT UP Philadelphia at (215) 386-1981 or Jose DeMarco at (215) 756-4756. > > ---------------------------------- > P.S. You could also write some good letters to the editors of your local newspapers telling them that you want fair judges & don't agree with the viewpoints of the radical right. >
