Gay congressman's spouse denied benefits

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Quigley_Sharps, Oct 18, 2006.


  1. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    [​IMG]
    BOSTON - Former Rep. Gerry Studds, the first openly gay member of Congress, was married to another man in Massachusetts at the time of his death, but the federal government will not pay death benefits to his spouse.



    Studds married Dean Hara in 2004 after gay marriage was legalized in Massachusetts. But Hara will not be eligible to receive any portion of Studds' estimated $114,337 annual pension because the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act bars the federal government from recognizing Studds' marriage.

    Peter Graves, a spokesman for the Office of Personnel Management, which administers the congressional pension program, said same-sex partners are not recognized as spouses for any marriage benefits. He said Studds' case was the first of its kind known to the agency.

    Under federal law, pensions can be denied only to lawmakers' same-sex partners and people convicted of espionage or treason, Graves said.

    Studds, 69, had his homosexuality exposed during a teenage page sex scandal in 1983. He died Saturday, several days after collapsing while walking his dog. Doctors said he had developed two blood clots.

    Graves said Studds could have purchased an insurable interest annuity, similar to an insurance policy, which is allowed under both the civil service and federal employee retirement system and is not affected by the Defense of Marriage Act. Graves said he did not know if Studds used that option.

    Pete Sepp, spokesman for the nonprofit watchdog group National Taxpayers Union, estimated Studds' annual pension at $114,337.

    That would have made Hara eligible for a lifetime annual pension of about $62,000, which would grow with inflation, if the marriage were recognized by the federal government, Sepp said.

    Hara, 48, declined to comment on the matter.

    Gary Buseck, legal director for an advocacy group called Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, said Studds' case may offer "a moment of education for Congress."

    "Now they have a death in the congressional family of one of their distinguished members whose spouse is being treated differently than any of their spouses," Buseck said.

    In 2004, Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage after gay and lesbian couples successfully sued for the right to marry.

    Studds was elected to Congress in 1972. In 1983, a 27-year-old man disclosed that he and Studds had a sexual relationship a decade earlier when he was a teenage congressional page. The House censured Studds, who revealed on the House floor that he was gay.

    Voters continued to re-elect him until he retired in 1997 to become a lobbyist for the fishing industry and environmental causes.
     
  2. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    A a Democrat from Massachusetts need I say more?
     
  3. Infidel

    Infidel Guest

    Yes you do. Buttfluffing is not the prerogative of the democratic party. There are Republican ass pirates too.
    FoxOReilly_MarkFoleyDEM_100306.
     
  4. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    I was talking about Mass having legal gay marriage .
    You still all upset at homo's?
     
  5. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Amazing, Foley only had "improper contact", while this rectum-raider kept his job after he had a a full blown ass-party with a page and then was re-elected and serving the public. The difference is, Foley was a republican, and this is not acceptable behavior for a republican. Before you get your panties in a wad Infidel, I am referring to the "improper contact" with the page. Not being a [haay] , although IMHO that is improper in itself.
     
  6. ColtCarbine

    ColtCarbine Monkey+++ Founding Member

    Regardless of political affiliation rump rangers preying on children need to be introduced to general population at a local prison, after they have had the shit kicked out of 'em...

    I have no tolerance for any adult seeking sexual relations with minors :mad:

    The Democrats are f*cking hypocrits for helping this ass lover get re-elected but want to run Foley through the ringer. Where's the ACLU, when a guy needs 'em? :rolleyes:

    In response to not receiving death benefits...
    [​IMG]
     
  7. ridgerunner58

    ridgerunner58 Monkey+++

    Fags should go back to the closet,then the door locked.
     
  8. ColtCarbine

    ColtCarbine Monkey+++ Founding Member

    What happened they quit supporting NAMBLA, ACLU and the Gay Rights movement? foosed
     
  9. ColtCarbine

    ColtCarbine Monkey+++ Founding Member

    deleted message, some are offended sorry
     
  10. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    Not me, may have Infidel, he pops up on these homo threads post a lot :D
     
  11. ColtCarbine

    ColtCarbine Monkey+++ Founding Member

    [fnny]...
     
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