Are Civil Unions Enough? Gay, Lesbian Couples Say No

Civil unions aren't working, say many gay and lesbian couples. Despite the arrangement's promise of equality, many say that just hasn't happened, reports The New York Times. "Being in a civil union is not the same as married," Jeffrey Busch, a Connecticut lawyer, told the Times. "If it was, they would call it marriage. I don't know anybody who would give up their marriage for a civil union." How civil unions are recognized depends on state regulation. Currently, Massachusetts is the only state that allows same sex couples to marry under the law. Vermont, New Hampshire and New Jersey have civil unions and California and Oregon have domestic-partner benefits. What are the same-sex-marriage laws in your state? Also, read DiversityInc Partner and Cofounder Luke Visconti's firsthand account of Beth and Joanne's civil union--one of the first to legally take place in New Jersey.

First Black and Blind Lt. Gov. Takes N.Y. Top Seat

Today, Lt. Gov. David Paterson will be sworn in as New York's 55th governor. Paterson, who is the country's first legally blind and fourth Black governor, will take over the state's top seat following the resignation of Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who was named in a prostitution scandal. Born in Brooklyn in 1954, Paterson, a graduate of Columbia University and Hofstra Law School, was elected minority leader of the New York State Senate in 2002, becoming the first non-white legislative leader in the state's history. Four years later, he became the state's first Black lieutenant governor. In his inaugural speech, Paterson is expected to talk about the need for Republicans and Democrats to work together to address the state's budget, reports The Associated Press. "It's very daunting," Paterson said on Friday. "I definitely feel anxiety, but in the end, we have a job to do. And we're here to do that job."

Court Ruling Permits Discriminatory Ads on Craigslist

A federal appeals court dismissed discrimination charges against online classified-ad site Craigslist.com, which had gotten into trouble for allowing discriminatory housing ads to be posted on its site. The court ruled that the site is immune from the Fair Housing Act of 1968. The Fair Housing Act deems it illegal to publish ads excluding tenants because of their race, gender, marital status, national origin and religion, reports Wired, but Craigslist was granted immunity because of Internet properties' rights to allow users to have free speech. The suit, which sought to make Craigslist liable for the discriminatory housing ads, was shot down as the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the company would be treated as an Internet service provider and hence not liable for third-party postings.

Military Disability Rating System 'Not Working'

In the last five years, the Army has awarded full disability-retirement benefits to only one-third as many soldiers with debilitating injuries as it did before the war in Iraq began, reports National Public Radio (NPR). Today, soldiers are issued a disability rating, which directly correlates to the amount of benefits one would receive; the higher the score, the more monetary benefits one is awarded. Too often, those awards are insufficient. Now, high-power lawyers from private firms are stepping in to help soldiers get the benefits they are due. "The process is not working to the extent that the Department of Defense would hope," Erin Holtz, a D.C.--area lawyer who helped one soldier who suffered a severe abdomen injury increase his disability rating from 30 percent to 80 percent, told NPR. But while bringing in private lawyers has helped relieve some returning veterans' medical woes, many say the program is fundamentally flawed and needs systemic changes. How can you help veterans with disabilities? Check out this list of charities and organizations.

Immigrant Workers File Class-Action Lawsuit

More News Digest >>