Kalamazoo Residents Protest in Bronson Park

An article by Bill Jefferson    No Comments

KALAMAZOO — Members of the Kalamazoo Gay Lesbian Resource Center, KAFE, and the surrounding area holding rainbow-colored cloths in a show of unity, gathered in Kalamazoo on Sunday 1/8/12 to protest a new state law that limits access to domestic partner benefits for government employees.

A state law signed last month blocks the  offering of taxpayer-paid health insurance to domestic partners living  with some public employees. It mostly affects local governments and public  schools and applies to health insurance and other benefits for unmarried partners of the employees, same sex or not.

Many of those who took part in Sunday’s demonstration, spearheaded by the Kalamazoo Gay and Lesbian Resource Center, said gay and transgendered citizens are unfairly singled out by the law.

”They start with taking away benefits rights, but what’s next?” said Sarah Hoisington, 24. “This is the catalyst for something bigger.”  READ MORE