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07/15/06-07/17/06

Lambda enters fight to save domestic-partner benefits at Ohio university

The gay advocacy group Lambda Legal has joined the fight to save domestic-partner benefits at Ohio's Miami University, urging a judge on Friday to throw out a lawsuit by antigay forces that hoped to abolish the benefits.

Conservative Ohio legislator Thomas Brinkman and the antigay Alliance Defense Fund, are suing Miami University, claiming their benefits for domestic partners violates Ohio's antigay constitutional amendment, which limits marriage to a man and a woman. Lambda's brief argues that Brinkman has no standing to sue, since the public university pays for its domestic-partner benefits with private funds.

"Mr. Brinkman has no legal standing to bring this lawsuit because it makes no difference in his daily life when the domestic partners of lesbian and gay university employees have health insurance," said James Madigan, staff attorney for Lambda Legal.

Lambda is also arguing that Ohio's constitutional amendment doesn't apply to Miami University because it concerns marriage and not domestic partnerships. (The Advocate)

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