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The article previews the Ocean County Freeholders' meeting organized by gay-rights group Garden State Equality in New Jersey on January 18, 2006. The meeting is aimed to support police officer and lung cancer patient Laurel Hester who wishes to extend pension benefits to her partner Stacie Andree. The state's Domestic Partner Act permits but does not require counties to extend benefits to its employees.

The article reports that an Ohio lawmaker has filed a lawsuit against Miami University of Middletown, Ohio, to end benefits for domestic partners. The suit argues that Miami University's policy of offering benefits to same-sex domestic partners of its employees violates an amendment to the state's Constitution banning civil unions. The dispute puts Ohio among a growing number of states where the ability of public colleges to offer such benefits has been challenged in legislatures or the courts. A spokesman for the university, Richard Little, said that it had no plans to rescind its policy, which provides benefits to about 30 same-sex partners of employees.

Reports on the ruling issued by the California Supreme Court on a case regarding a policy of Bernardo Heights County Club filed by lesbian couple Birgit Koebke and Kendall French in San Diego, California on August 1, 2005. Possible impact of the ruling on other businesses according to Jon Davidson, legal director of the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund; Background on the expanded Domestic Partner Act; Inability of the couple to seek damages for discriminatory treatment.

Reports on the initiative of Representative Barney Frank in introducing a legislation that would allow for domestic partnership benefits for non-married federal employees, both gay and straight in the U.S. Details of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act; Effort of the federal government to recognize the changing workforce and value its employees; Call for an issue of fairness.

Advises an AIDS-positive man concerning AB205, a law governing domestic partnership in California. Rights, benefits and responsibilities granted to domestic partners; Registration of domestic partners; Impact of the law on the legal status of gay couples.

Assesses same-sex marriage in California. Rights and responsibilities of registered domestic partners; Changes in the registered domestic partnership law; Analysis of the partner law AB205.

Highlights the position of James McGreevey, New Jersey governor, on same-sex marriage. Views of Michael Adams, lawyer with Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, on pressing McGreevey into changing his mind; Details of the assumptions that McGreevey will change his mind on same-sex marriage once he is out of the governor's office; Efforts made by McGreevey in pushing the Legislature to allow same-sex partnerships.

Comments on the passage of the domestic partnership bill in California. Reactions of representatives of religious rights to the approval of the bill; Consequence of the additional rights and responsibilities of domestic partners; Speculations on the response of the Republicans to the approval.

Focuses on the changes in the workplace related to the benefits received by same-sex couples. Efforts of Chubb Group, an insurance company in Warren (N.J.), to offer domestic partner benefits; Increase in company inquiries about work-life benefits for gays, according to Hewitt Associates, a benefits-consultant company; Percentage of big companies offering domestic-partner benefits in 2003, according to Hewitt's Carol Sladek, indicating an increase from 2000; Increase in the number of gays who are coming "out" to their friends and co-workers; Current laws in U.S. states with respect to benefits from same-sex couples; Speculation about family-friendly benefits being extended to same-sex couples as the trend toward recognition increases.

Reports several approved bills related to gay rights in California. Enactment of the antigay marriage law; Legislation of the domestic party registry; Approval of the gay marriage bans in the country.

Reports that Virginia Senator Kenneth T. Cuccinelli (R-Fairfax) has withdrawn his support from a bill that would extend health benefits to gay domestic partners. Outlook of Cuccinelli on homosexuality; Reason for the decision of Republican Delegate James H. Dillard to sponsor the legislation; Reaction of legislators to the decision of Cuccinelli.

Reports that the Human Relations Commission of Atlanta has decided that the Druid Hills Golf Club is violating a city ordinance by refusing spousal privileges to gay members' domestic partners.

Comments on key controversies surrounding the gay domestic partnership law signed by New Jersey Governor James McGreevey. Provisions that relate to financial benefits and hospital visiting privileges for gay couples; Issues on the discrimination against gay and lesbian couples; Extension of the benefits of marriage to same-sex couples.

Reports on the optimism of governor James E. McGreevey on the law that allows same-sex couples to form domestic partnership in New Jersey.

Reports on outgoing California Governor Gray Davis' signing into law a domestic partners bill. Formation of a task force to develop guidelines on the use of post-exposure prophylaxis for treating HIV; Approval of a state identification card for medical marijuana patients; Davis' veto of a bill that would have allowed pharmacies to sell syringes without prescription.

Reports that San Francisco, California Board of Supervisors will pass an ordinance recognizing domestic partner benefits recognized in other jurisdictions. Effect on gay couples; Amendment of the city's administrative code; Passage of a similar measure in Daly City.

Editorial. Focuses on California Governor Gray Davis' plan to sign into law a sweeping domestic partnership bill. Need to gain the gay vote in the run-up to the October 7, 2003 recall elections; Need to treat gay and straight couples equally; Davis' shift from centrist to progressive politics.

Reports on the results of a vote for three domestic-partnership legislation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 7, 1998. Surprises on the outcome of the votation; Breakdown of the voting record on the bills.

Reports on the speculations whether California Governor Gray Davis will veto the legislation on expanded domestic partnerships including gay marriages. Comments made by Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson on the plans of Davis to veto the bill; Denial issued by gubernatorial spokesman Russ Lopez on the bill's veto plans; Controversy regarding the use of the word 'marriage' in the bill.

Reports on two legislative bills that would expand the rights of California's domestic partners. AB205, Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act; AB17 prohibiting state agencies from contracting with businesses that discriminate in the benefits offered between employees with spouses and employees with registered domestic partners.

Reports that a group of lawyers and judges from the American Law Institute has recommended changes in U.S. family law that would increase alimony and property rights for divorced women and extend rights to cohabiting domestic partners, both heterosexual and gay. Reasons that the American Law Institute seeks to change family law; Impact that the report from the American Law Institute will have on American law; Prestige of the American Law Institute; Determination of family law in U.S. states; Discretion that judges have in divorce proceedings; Critics of change.

Reveals that the Bethany United Methodist Church will sponsor a series of forums and workshops about domestic partnerships. Goal of the workshops to increase responsiveness to the needs of domestic partners whose relationships the Methodist Church does not officially recognize.

Reports that San Francisco, California Supervisor Mark Leno has placed a charter amendment on the March 2002 ballot to fix an inequity in the domestic partnership benefits charter amendment passed in November 1994. Proposal to waive the registration requirement for employees who have retired on or before the election day of November 8, 1994; Impact of Leno's amendment on the city's budget.

Reports on the approval by the United States House of Representatives of a proposed domestic partners law.

Discusses the brief regarding the Chicago schools' same-sex-only domestic partner policy in Illinois. Implications of policy for gay rights; Fundamentally flawed version of constitutional analysis; Extension of benefits to opposite sex couples.

Focuses on the decision of Dan Livingston, a lawyer who is the chief negotiator the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition, to rule on giving health benefits for domestic partners in Connecticut. Opposition of Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland to the proposal for benefits for partners; Requirements for the coverage of domestic partners; Possible impact of the benefits.

Informs that Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge signed a bill exempting state colleges from requiring institutions to provide health benefits to same-sex partners of employees. The decision ending an ongoing debate over health benefits at the University of Pittsburgh; Background notes on the story; Reasons for the support of the decision; Other considerations.

Reports that the Philadelphia archdiocese says three proposed city ordinances concerning health and pension benefits to the same-sex partners of all city employees should be rejected. Comment of Cardinal Anthony Bevilaqua to the legislation; Veto of the legislation that would have amended Maine's Human Rights Act; Effect of the Catholic church's stand on human sexuality and human rights to the law in question.

Editorial. Comments on legislation to make heterosexual or homosexual domestic partners, equal to married spouses, proposed by New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Requirements of the proposal; Significance of Giuliani's plan.

Provides information on the domestic partnership bill by Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Speaker Vallone of New York City, New York. Benefits of the bill; Comments from Tom Duane, a council member at Chelsea, New York; Issue of same-sex marriage; Comments from spokesperson Colleen Roche, regarding the bill; Information on the Empire State Pride Agenda.