A federal judge in San Francisco has ruled that the government cannot deny health benefits to a lesbian court employee's wife, says Lisa Leff reporting for the Associated Press.
Health insurance benefits were being denied to a staff lawyer for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Karen Golinski's wife, Amy Cunninghis.
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A 1996 law known as the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which bars government recognition of same-sex unions was quoted to support denial of health care.
In a ruling earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White said DOMA is unconstitutional as it violates Golinski's right to equal protection before the law, and therefore discriminates against same-sex married couples. Hence, the government's refusal to furnish health insurance to Karen Golinski's wife was unjustified.
![6 Million American Children Have No Health Insurance]()
Golinski, and Amy Cunninghis were married during the brief window in 2008 when same-sex marriages were legal in California. The Office of Personnel Management ordered Golinski's insurer not to process her application.
The law defines marriage as a union between a man and woman, and prohibits the government from granting benefits such as Social Security and Medicaid to same-sex couples.
Source: Medindia
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Golinski, and Amy Cunninghis were married during the brief window in 2008 when same-sex marriages were legal in California. The Office of Personnel Management ordered Golinski's insurer not to process her application.
The law defines marriage as a union between a man and woman, and prohibits the government from granting benefits such as Social Security and Medicaid to same-sex couples.
Source: Medindia
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