On Tuesday, you will be able to vote on State Issue One which is positioned as a way to prevent gay marriage. But the law goes far beyond this and will prohibit public sector employers from offering medical leave and medical benefits to children adopted by single parents and/or unmarried couples (including heterosexual couples). So PLEASE vote “No” on this bill. You can read about it at:
http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/news/guide/IssuesReport-04.pdf
note: this bill was e-mailed and described to me by an Ohio resident who had received an e-mail from an adoption agency about it. It appears as though there are differing views on what it would actually do. Personally, I tend to believe that one has to read legislation like this and ponder how it could be misused and abused in order to understand the whole picture. But I am not a legal expert nor a resident of Ohio so it is up to the Ohio voter to decide.
Posted by Kevin at October 27, 2004 04:45 PMKevin,
As a girl who grew up in Ohio, all I can say is that I am shocked. I don't understand why adopted children would be grouped in with this law. What do the two issues have to do with each other? It seems very misleading!!
I have always been proud to say that I grew up in Ohio...until now.
Hopefully, it will be voted down!
Thanks for the info!
Posted by: Lisa at October 27, 2004 09:05 PMKevin,
Hopefully this issue will not pass. Both (Republican) senators as well as our (Republican) governor and attorney general have all come out as opposing this issue. Thank you for highlighting this issue and how important the outcome of our vote will be.
Jen Vilkinofsky
Posted by: Jen at October 27, 2004 11:25 PMI am from Ohio....
What the pdf shows is the wording of the law, following by:
1. The Pro arguement
2. The Con arguement
for passing this law.
There are many other issues that are presented in this way.
This is the Ballot language:
Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage.
....nothing in there about denying benefits to adopted kids.
Here is the html link that makes this a little more clear:
http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/news/guide/one.htm
The wording in the law is pretty straight-forward and very succinct. It doesn't say anything about preventing adopted children from receiving any benefits. I have lived my entire life in Ohio and have never seen benefits being denied to adopted children at any company.
Companies, within certain limits, are free to design their benefits programs as they choose. Many companies in our area have granted "domicile benefits" to unmarried partners. My brother's company provided benefits to him and his live-in girlfriend when they were not married.
My wife's brother is a homosexual. He gets benefits through his "friend's" job.
There is no regulation that forces these companies provide these benefits. It is their freedom to do so or not if they choose.
Many states have similar issues on their ballots this time around since this issue has come to the forefront around the country.
Despite the direction of the culture, there are value judgements that are made by people every day. Some choices are inherently "better" than others.
I believe that the controversy will continue, but Ohio, and many other states will make the value judgement in favor of this amendment.
Posted by: John at October 28, 2004 10:25 AMAlas, I must retract my last comment... this is what I get for assuming things. The local newspaper (the Columbus Dispatch) had a recent poll. The quote in yesterdays paper (p. A3 under Poll) states "The survey also shows State Issue 1 - The proposed state amendment to define marriage and its legal benefits as solely between a man and a woman - passing by a wide margin. However a late advertising campaign by issue opponents had not begun during part of the polling period, Oct. 20th thru Friday." (October 29th)
Jen
Posted by: Jen at November 1, 2004 09:14 AMI will no longer be visiting this site to receive information on Guatemala adoption or recommending it to others. This SHOULD not be used to promote unwarranted (and uneduacated) political views that are unrelated to adoption. Very disappointed.
Can we please get back to posting about US and when OUR babies will come home? So that when they do I can forget about this site?
Shannon