The ACLU is asking a court to at least temporarily block a state-wide ban on domestic partner benefits for public employees.
The organization believes the ban unfairly singles out same-sex couples.
Governor Rick Snyder said he approved the ban after the state Civil Service Commission added the benefits while the state was dealing with a financial crisis.
However, ACLU Attorney Jay Kaplan said he's not sure the state will save much money by denying domestic partner benefits.
"We're talking about three employees here, six employees there. It's a very, very small population."
The ban applies to all domestic partners. That leaves heterosexual partners with a way out, says Maxine Thome with the National Association of Social Workers. But not same-sex partners.
"Heterosexual couples that, for whatever reason, don't want to marry, it forces them to do that. For LGBT people, LGBT people can't marry. So there's no answer."
State universities are exempt from the ban, but it does cover community colleges, public schools, cities and counties. A U-S Court of Appeals has struck down a similar ban in Arizona.
Copyright 2010, MPRN
The organization believes the ban unfairly singles out same-sex couples.
Governor Rick Snyder said he approved the ban after the state Civil Service Commission added the benefits while the state was dealing with a financial crisis.
However, ACLU Attorney Jay Kaplan said he's not sure the state will save much money by denying domestic partner benefits.
"We're talking about three employees here, six employees there. It's a very, very small population."
The ban applies to all domestic partners. That leaves heterosexual partners with a way out, says Maxine Thome with the National Association of Social Workers. But not same-sex partners.
"Heterosexual couples that, for whatever reason, don't want to marry, it forces them to do that. For LGBT people, LGBT people can't marry. So there's no answer."
State universities are exempt from the ban, but it does cover community colleges, public schools, cities and counties. A U-S Court of Appeals has struck down a similar ban in Arizona.
Copyright 2010, MPRN