PHOENIX — The Arizona House of Representatives on Tuesday voted 33 to 25 (with two absent) to pass a resolution that, if adopted by the Senate, would bring another constitutional amendment to define marriage before voters in November, according to reports. If adopted, gay rights activists fear the amendment would spark lawsuits from anti-domestic partnership activists challenging domestic benefits for unmarried couples, a threat that has played out in states that have enacted similar marriage amendments. “With their yes votes … today, 33 members of the Arizona House of Representatives said they want more litigation that threatens to take away domestic benefits from unmarried couples,” said Barbara McCullough-Jones, director of Equality Arizona. “Thirty-three members want to force Arizona voters to vote again on an issue that has already been decided — by the legislature, by the courts and by the voters.” Members of the anti-gay Center for Arizona Policy were joyous about the outcome. On the Policy website, conservative activists thanked their supporters for the outcome and said, “Pray for our legislative efforts to be successful.”
Gay rights groups launch hospital rating system
NEW YORK (AP) — Just more than half of 88 hospitals got top marks under a new rating system created by two national gay-rights organizations, which hope the standards will result in more compassionate treatment of gay and lesbian patients. Policies addressed in the ratings include patient nondiscrimination, visitation and decision-making rights for partners, diversity training for staff and nondiscriminatory employment practices. The hospitals participated voluntarily, and the groups behind the report said there will be no effort to rate hospitals that don’t want to respond. Instead, they hope many hospitals will strive for high ratings as the survey recurs annually. Called the Healthcare Equality Index, the ratings were designed by Human Rights Campaign and the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association. Some responses to the new survey came from hospital networks. Kaiser Permanente, answering on behalf of 31 hospitals in California and Hawaii, said all met the survey's 10 criteria. They were among 45 hospitals in all with top marks. University Hospitals of Cleveland, representing 10 Ohio hospitals, said they fully met only two criteria: domestic partner benefits for employees and a patient nondiscrimination policy that includes sexual orientation. The survey was sent to several Georgia hospitals, but none completed it to be ranked in the index.
From staff and wire reports
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