I really don't see a whole lot of difference between the AFA and the fun folks from the Westboro Baptist Church. They both carry the same message: one uses vulgar signs and protests to harass people, the other uses lawyers.
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- A conservative group on Wednesday sued to stop Michigan State University from offering health insurance to the partners of gay workers and said the school is violating a 2004 amendment to the state constitution.
The American Family Association of Michigan filed the lawsuit in Ingham County Circuit Court and hopes to get a ruling setting a precedent that would block domestic partner benefits at other state universities.
Deborah Labelle, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, said the suit is pointless because the state appeals court already is set to rule on the issue. She characterized attempts to strip benefits from gay partners as "mean-spirited."
And costly, too. Money that could be used for education is now going to fight a frivolous lawsuit.
How much did tuition go up this year?
The purpose of the suit is to ensure that courts rule on the constitutionality of domestic partner benefits at public universities, said Patrick Gillen, an attorney for the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor, which is representing the American Family Association.
By providing same-sex benefits, Michigan State is "recognizing same-sex marriage in substance if not by label," Gillen said. A related case is pending before the Michigan Court of Appeals, which heard arguments in April.
Michigan State spokesman Terry Denbow said the school would not comment on pending litigation.
In 2004, Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment that made the union between a man and a woman the only agreement recognized as a marriage "or similar union for any purpose."
Those six words spurred a legal fight over benefits for the partners of gay employees who work for state and local governments and other public employers. Gays say voters meant to prevent gay marriage but never intended to keep them from getting health insurance.
The AFA doesn't appear to be listed as a "hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center, but they are on the watch list of the most influential anti-gay groups. They walk right up to the line and stop before they acquire that "hate" label- but they are close.
The SPLC calls these groups a "virtual industry"- basically, this is bigotry for profit. Wish we could figure out a way to sue them for abuse of the system.