NEWS UPDATES
September 20, 2011: A Historic Day The End of Don't Ask Don't Tell To read more click here. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OBAMA ORDERS END TO DEFENSE OF FEDERAL GAY MARRIAGE LAW
President Obama, in a major legal policy shift, has directed the Justice Department to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act -- the 1996 law that bars federal recognition of same-sex marriages -- against lawsuits challenging it as unconstitutional. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. sent a letter to Congress on Wednesday saying that the Justice Department will now take the position in court that the act should be struck down as a violation of same-sex couples’ rights to equal protection under the law. Click here for more info. _________________________________________________________________________
NEW NATIONAL RULES FOR HOSPITAL VISITATION RIGHTS AFFECT LGBT PATIENTS Click here for more info. |
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'THIS IS A GOOD DAY': OBAMA SIGNS LANDMARK LEGISLATION TO REPEAL 'DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL' WASHINGTON – Declaring that members of the military will no longer be asked to lie, President Barack Obama fulfilled a campaign promise Wednesday and signed a landmark law repealing the ban on gay men and women serving openly in the armed services. Click here for more info. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ORDINANCES 7905 &7906 PASS IN BOWLING GREEN The Wood County Board of Elections this morning announced that Ordinances 7905 and 7906 (anti-discrimination ordinances extending protections to LGBT individuals and others) in Bowling Green were approved. Ordinance 7905 — 4,765 yes; 4,284 no. Ordinance 7906 — 4,635 yes; 4,338 no. The margin of victory is sufficient to avoid an automatic recount. See http://www.sent-trib.com/front-page/ordinances-7905-7906-pass-in-bg or http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101122/NEWS16/101129896 for more information. Thank you to all those individuals who helped in this victory! _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TOLEDO MODERN FAMILY Check out the video here! _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
INTERVIEW ON DEADLINE NOW, WGTE _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ OHIO NEXT OF KIN REGISTRY Any holder of a valid Ohio driver license, commercial driver license, temporary permit or identification card can register the person(s) they want considered their "next of kin". The registry allows an individual to attach one or two people who should be notified if they are in an emergency situation. Law enforcement officers will be able to access the information during traffic accidents or other similar emergencies. The registry includes in its listing of relationship options, partner. The information is kept up to date by the applicant and can be done either online, via mail or in person at the local BMV.This is a wonderful opportunity for people in relationships that aren't currently recognized by the state of Ohio. Given the issues around emergency decision-making, access, etc. – this could be a really great thing for our community - particularly if the individual, when listing the name of the person to notify, includes “Legal POA” at the end of the name. Obviously there are no guarantees on how the first responders will use the information, however, it puts us one step closer to being able to notify the ones we love in emergency situations. Click here to register.
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In late December 2007,
Toledo became the first major city in Ohio to establish
a domestic partnership registry.
Read more in our Winter 2008 Equality
Newsletter
One Government Center, Suite 2120To register, click here for the Domestic Partner Registry form, fill it out, have it notarized, and take or mail it with $25.00 to the Clerk of Council's office at: Toledo, OH 43604 Office open: Weekdays 8:00am - 4:45pm _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ HRC'S EQUALITY INDEXES 2008 Corporate Equality Index Healthcare Equality Index |
