Math Teacher Sues for Partner's Benefits

A math teacher is suing a western Pennsylvania public school support agency seeking benefits for his same-sex partner.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday on behalf of 47-year-old Bradley Ankney argues he's unfairly being denied benefits, which are available to heterosexual colleagues who can legally marry in Pennsylvania.

The Allegheny Intermediate Unit provides benefits to married partners, and Ankney contends the policy discriminates because gays can't legally marry in Pennsylvania. However, the intermediate unit doesn't provide benefits to unmarried heterosexual partners, either.
 
The intermediate unit referred comment to its attorney, who did not immediately return a call.
 
Reggie Shuford, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, which filed the lawsuit, says, "Conditioning employment benefits on marriage discriminates against gays and lesbians because they cannot get married under Pennsylvania law ... ."

A law that is being ignored in Montgomery County. Register of Wills, D. Bruce Hanes has been issuing marriage licenses to gay couples since July 23. Many are behind Hanes in his decision to grant the licenses, but there are also many who are not.

Days after the first same-sex marriage license was issued in Montgomery County, the Pennsylvania Department of Health filed a lawsuit against Hanes in an attempt to stop him from issuing any more marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Earlier this month, a federal judge granted retirement benefits to the female spouse of a woman who died in Illinois three years ago.