Judge grants Preliminary Injunction to Partner Benefits

This weekend, Judge John Sedwick issued a preliminary injunction to stop Arizona from denying gay and lesbian partners domestic partnership benefits.

AZ Central reports:

The legislation eliminated coverage for non-spouse domestic partners, whether they were heterosexual or gay. Heterosexual couples had the option of receiving benefits simply by getting married. Gay and lesbian couple can't do so in Arizona.

The state argued, among other things, that the law saves Arizona money, to which the judge (in one section of a 33-page decision) says:

"Contrary to the State's suggestion, it is not equitable to lay the burden of the State budgetary shortfall on homosexual employees, any more than on any other distinct class, such as employees with green eyes or red hair."

No word yet on whether the state will appeal. As it stands, gay couples who meet the rest of the eligibility criteria in the state's administrative code will receive the same benefits as married state employees