BEGINNING October 21, same-sex couples in New Jersey will be able to wed. This, after a New Jersey judge rejected the state’s appeal to halt same-sex marriages.
Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson cited the US Supreme Court’s June rejection of part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, a move that ensured that same-sex spouses legally married in a state may receive federal benefits.
As CNN reported, the state of New Jersey argued in its appeal that it already provides equal marital rights and benefits to same-sex couples in New Jersey with civil unions, contending that any federal benefits or rights deprived to partners in civil unions fall on the shoulders of the federal government, not theirs.
But Jacobson counter-argued that the inability for partners in civil unions to access federal marriage benefits violates New Jersey’s constitution.
But as Balitang America’s Correspondent Don Tagala reported, some religious kababayans in the Garden State say they are appalled by this development.
“Ay hindi puwede kasi wala yan sa Bible na mag-asawa ka ng lalaki sa lalaki, ang babae magasawa ng babae, hinde! It’s against the Law of God, I’m a Baptiste and I live in this country for 46 years, I can not tolerate people for having marriage same sex,” Eleanor Escobar who is against same-sex marriage said, “By that time, I’m not here anymore, I’m in the Philippines, aalis na ako.”
Even with opposition from his own community – Ronald Capila told Don Tagala that he cannot wait to get married to his partner of six years and avail of about 1,300 rights and benefits that were only previously afforded to straight married couples.
Capila said, “I’m a working class citizen and I pay taxes I feel like I should be able to get married if I want to, and get the same benefits if and when I need it.”
Meantime, Filipino-American stand up comic Rich Kiamco and his partner David Gibson, who have been together for 10 years, will be among the first to tie the knot in New Jersey on October 21.
But the fight is not over for the LGBT community. The state will continue to seek an expedited review of the case by the New Jersey Supreme Court.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s office said wanted the “issue of marriage equality” to be on the ballot this November.
CNN quoted Christie as saying: “I don’t think (the issue) should be decided by 121 politicians in Trenton or seven judges on the Supreme Court. It should be decided by the 8.8 million people of New Jersey, and if they do decide to change the definition of marriage by referendum then I will support that law and enforce that part of the constitution with the same vigor that I’ve done for the last four years with every other part.”
If same sex marriage passes this test, New Jersey will be the 14th state where gay and lesbian couples can legally marry, and enjoy all the rights, benefits, and protection accorded to opposite sex couples.
Will equal rights be extended to same-sex couples in the Philippines?
Will the landmark company policy of the Manila office of Thomson Reuters set a precedent in companies in the Philippines?
Thomson Reuters has introduced its “Domestic Partners Eligibility” policy, making domestic partners and same-sex partners eligible as dependents and beneficiaries for company benefits. This supports employees’ domestic (“live-in”) and same-sex partnerships.
This policy is already in place in Thomson Reuters offices in the US and United Kingdom, but the first to be implemented in its offices in Asia.
Single employees with domestic partners, either heterosexual or same-sex, may now enroll them as qualified dependents under its healthcare plan, and as qualified beneficiaries under its group life insurance plan and retirement plan.
As ABS-CBN News reported, the company has identified a list of criteria for eligibility, as well as documentation requirements, for domestic partners to avail of company benefits.
Domestic partnership is used to describe a committed relationship between unmarried individuals, either same sex or heterosexual.
According to Thomson Reuters Senior Site Officer and Head of Human Resources Peter Buenaseda, the company embraces diversity to drive innovation and deliver competitive advantage.
“We foster an inclusive workplace where all employees are valued and have the opportunity to reach their full potential,” he said.
Currently, Thomson Reuters has over 2,200 staff working in the Philippines.
Thomson Reuters has its headquarter in New York. It combines industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, government, intellectual property and science and media markets, powered by the world’s most trusted news organization.
Would and should other companies operating in the Philippines follow the lead of Thomson Reuters and grant same-sex couples the same benefits they grant to heterosexual couples?
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
