Minnesota's gay and lesbian couples have begun
organizing a lawsuit similar to the ones that
overturned same-sex marriage bans in Massachusetts and
California, the Twin Cities' Daily Planet
reported Sunday.
"Gays and
lesbians face legal costs to get legal documents such as
hospital visitation, care decisions, and so on -- all that
are granted by marriage," Duane Benson told the
Planet. Benson and his partner, Doug, are one
of the couples looking to sue the state.
"We want a
critical mass of couples involved," Doug told the
Planet. So far, the Bensons are joined by three
other couples and are hoping for a group of nearly 30
couples by August 15 in order to bring a successful
suit.
While couples who
sign on can expect to pay up to $1,000 in legal costs,
the Bensons think it's well worth it. "In
Doug's and my case, we pay $3,000 more a year in taxes
because we are not spouses," Duane told the
Planet.
And it's
not just about the money for this Minnesota couple.
"The point we want to make is to make sure
equality is pursued wherever we can pursue it,"
Doug told the Planet. "Because we
can't sit around waiting for this to happen. We want
this to become a reality here at home, and we are
trying through the courts as well as through the
legislature.... We have waited long enough."
(The Advocate)
