2 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE June 4, 2010

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www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com

'Significant others' to get family and funeral leave

by Anthony Glassman

Columbus-State employees may soon be granted family and bereavement leave for issues involving their "significant others," after a public hearing was held on May 26.

The hearing was on adding the term to the definition of immediate family in the Ohio

'Don't ask'

Continued from page 1

regulatory power out of the military and enshrined it in law.

Lieberman's amendment tracks Gates' letter to Skelton remarkably, calling for gays to serve only after the study concludes that gays and lesbians serving "is consistent with the standards of military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and

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Administrative Code, and the change is being pushed by the office of Gov. Ted Strickland.

The definition, according to Equality Ohio, identifies a "significant other" as "one who stands in place of a spouse and who resides with the employee."

The issue now moves to the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, which will examine it in June.

recruiting and retention of the Armed Forces." The study is scheduled to be completed in December.

Then, the president, secretary of defense and chair of the joint chiefs of staff must each certify to Congress that the recommendations in the report are being followed, and that the Department of Defense has prepared policies and regulations to implement the service of openly gay and lesbian soldiers.

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The administrative code applies only to state agencies and their employees.

The order does not include benefits like health and life insurance, which are extended to many state workers and, for married ones, their spouses.

Courts have ruled that including domestic partners in areas previously limited to spouses does not violate Ohio's 2004 con-

Until all those qualifications are met, the ban on gays and lesbians remains law and the discharges continue.

Further, Lieberman's language gives no guidance, no timelines, and no performance benchmarks, leaving the entire process up to the discretion and political influences of those in power at the Pentagon.

A new president hostile to gays could also bring the whole thing to a halt, or, if gays are serving openly, change the policy again.

In anticipation of passage, Gates has called for servicemembers and their families to comment on how they feel about gays serving openly.

Though the bill with the repeal language is ultimately expected to pass, there are two hurdles looming.

Republican John McCain of Arizona has threatened to filibuster the entire war spending bill if it contains the language repealing "don't ask don't tell."

Also, the spending package contains the purchase of backup engines for the F-35 fighter jet that the president doesn't want. Gates said in a news conference June 1 that Obama would veto the bill if the engine was in it.

Predictably, LGBT advocates are split on the developments around repealing "don't ask don't tell."

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stitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil union.

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that the marriage ban amendment does not affect domestic violence laws that include people "living as a spouse." The ruling said that the amendment only bans legal status that has all of the attributes of marriage—a marriage substitute such as civil union.

On one side are those led by the Human Rights Campaign who applaud the repeal language, trusting the Obama administration and insisting it's the best that can be gotten now.

After the House vote, HRC put out a statement saying "U.S. House Vote Spells Demise of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

That statement also infers that gays and lesbians will be able to serve openly.

HRC is also fundraising on it, with a solicitation titled: "Double your gift to help finally repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' " that does not mention that gays will still not be able to serve openly after the current law is repealed.

On the other side are those who insist Lieberman's language is inadequate and are taking action.

Lt. Dan Choi, a West Point graduate, Arabic linguist and Iraq War veteran fired for being gay, began a hunger strike at midnight May 26 demanding that the firings of gay servicemembers stop immediately.

He calls the Pentagon's study "insulting, wasteful and undignified" and calls for the enactment of non-discrimination laws ensuring that gays can serve openly.

Choi's fast can be followed online at www.ltdanchoi.com.

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