BOZEMAN – The city of Bozeman is expected to adopt a resolution that supports seven gay couples who are suing the state for the same rights as married couples.
The Daily Chronicle reports that the draft resolution says, “the Montana ‘marriage amendment’ precludes same-sex marriages, it does not preclude all couples from having the same fundamental rights of individual dignity, privacy, due process and the pursuit of life’s basic necessities” guaranteed by the state constitution. All five city commissioners have backed the proposal and plan to consider it during their regular meeting Sept. 27.
But not all support it.
Jeff Laszloffy, president of the Montana Family Foundation, says Bozeman officials must remember that the 2004 amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman was passed by an overwhelming majority of voters. He says if city commissioners pass the resolution, they will be “acting contrary to the wishes of the majority.”
The American Civil Liberties Union, on behalf of 14 plaintiffs, sued the state in July, claiming it is violating the state constitution by denying same-sex couples the same rights married couples have in making decisions affecting their family’s health care, finances, inheritance and other matters.