amendment

AMENDMENT
LEGAL BATTLES
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PASSED LAST YEAR THAT BANS GAY MARRIAGE IN OHIO HAS PROMPTED SEVERAL LEGAL BATTLES:
UNMARRIED PEOPLE CHARGED UNDER THE STATE'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAW HAVE ARGUED IN SEVERAL COUNTY COURTS THAT THE AMENDMENT MAKES THE CHARGES UNCONSTITUTIONAL. TWO STATE APPEALS COURTS HAVE OVERTURNED RULINGS FROM JUDGES IN CUYAHOGA AND WARREN COUNTIES WHO ARGUED THE LAW GIVES UNMARRIED COUPLES A SPECIAL LEGAL STATUS AND THREW OUT THE CHARGES.
STATE REP. TOM BRINKMAN JR., R-CINCINNATI, IS SUING TO OVERTURN HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS FOR SAME-SEX PARTNERS OF A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY'S EMPLOYEES. BRINKMAN HAS SAID MIAMI UNIVERSITY'S DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS POLICY VIOLATES THE AMENDMENT AND WASTES TAXPAYER MONEY.
A COLUMBUS WOMAN, DENISE FAIRCHILD, IS FIGHTING TO CANCEL HER EX-PARTNER'S VISITATION RIGHTS FOR HER BIOLOGICAL SON. THE BOY, CONCEIVED THROUGH ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION, WAS BORN WHILE FAIRCHILD WAS STILL IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH THERESE MARIE LEACH.