February 22, 2025
Headlines

couples

New guidance issued by US Labor Department on same-sex marriages and employee benefit plans

Steve Lee, Editor03 mins

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced new guidance interpreting the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Windsor. In a technical release, the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration provides guidance to plans, plan sponsors, fiduciaries, participants and beneficiaries on the decision’s impact on the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The release states…

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San Diego based VA Home Loan Centers becomes first military mortgage provider to offer financing to same-sex married couples

Steve Lee, Editor16 mins

SAN DIEGO —The Department of Veterans Affairs was among the last of the federal government organizations to extend benefits to same-sex couples, but now gay spouses are eligible to receive VA-back home loans, in states where their marriages are legally recognized. The VA Home Loan Centers, which operates as a privately held government loan specialist…

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‘Mayors for the Freedom to Marry’ adds five new co-chairs, sets 50-state goal

Steve Lee, Editor07 mins

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Freedom to Marry have announced the addition of mayors from Atlanta, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and San Antonio as new co-chairs of Mayors for the Freedom to Marry and set a goal of reaching 500 mayors representing all 50 states. The program, launched in January 2012 with 80 mayors, now has more than…

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Stop on same-sex marriage licenses in PA highlights tax mess for legally married same-sex couples

Steve Lee, Editor04 mins

NEW YORK CITY — Last Thursday’s court action halting the granting of marriage licenses to same-sex couples in Montgomery County, PA, underscores a complex and potentially expensive tax scenario for legally married same-sex couples in states where same-sex marriage is not recognized, according to David H. Glusman, CPA, partner-in-charge of the Philadelphia office of Marcum LLP and…

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Sen. Leno to honor Bay Area plaintiffs in Prop. 8 case

Steve Lee, Editor02 mins

SAN FRANCISCO – Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), is holding a community reception  in San Francisco Saturday, Sept. 7 to honor Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, the Bay Area plaintiffs in the Proposition 8 case that was heard before the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year. Sen. Leno and other members of the California Legislative Lesbian,…

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Pennsylvania Department of Health files suit to halt issuance of same-sex marriage licenses

Steve Lee, Editor13 mins

In what was seen as a widely expected move, Philly.com is reporting that the Pennsylvania Department of Health has issued an injunction against the Montgomery County Register of Wills, D. Bruce Hanes. Hanes, who to date has issued 154 same-sex marriage licenses, began issuing them in late July. “”I decided to come down on the…

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HHS announces first guidance implementing Supreme Court’s decision on the Defense of Marriage Act

Steve Lee, Editor04 mins

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a memo clarifying that all beneficiaries in private Medicare plans have access to equal coverage when it comes to care in a nursing home where their spouse lives.  This is the first guidance issued by HHS in response to the recent Supreme Court ruling, which…

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All legal same-sex marriages will be recognized for federal tax purposes

Steve Lee, Editor14 mins

WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced a ruling that will ensure all legally-married same-sex couples, regardless of where they live, will be recognized for federal tax purposes.  Recently the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which…

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