Miami University of Ohio has domestic partner benefits. Some people don’t like that and want to take the benefits away using the Ohio Marriage Amendment. Of course, this will discourage top-level faculty from coming to Ohio. That, in turn, will discourage top-level students from coming to Ohio.
Miami University has asked a Butler County court to throw out a lawsuit that challenges the school’s same-sex partnership policy on grounds it violates the year-old state ban on civil unions.
State Rep. Tom Brinkman Jr. filed suit against Miami in Common Pleas Court last month. His complaint alleges that Miami “seeks to provide a legal status which approximates marriage to those in a relationship whose composition disallows it to qualify for status as a marriage.”
In its response, filed Wednesday, Miami denies that claim. It calls Brinkman’s interpretation of the state amendment “erroneous” and asks that the suit be dismissed…
FYI, here is the ACLU on Ohio Issue 1, which is viewed as the most restrictive of the state-constitution-anti-gay amendments.
ACLU on DP benefits at Ohio’s state universities:
Domestic partnership benefits extended by state universities and other government employers are not barred by Issue 1
Five state universities, including Cleveland State, Miami University, Ohio State, Ohio University and Youngstown State, all provide domestic partnership benefits for their employees. Universities make these benefits available to foster a tolerant work environment and to attract the best candidates for job vacancies and can continue to do so. Many courts nationally have recognized that offering domestic partner benefits has nothing to do with marriage.
Cincinnati Enquirer Editorial 10/17/2004: Why we are opposed to Ohio Issue 1
Another problem caused by Ohio Issue 1 – Enforcement of Domestic Violence laws.