These have nothing to do with each other except that they both relate to issues relevant to my gender seminar–and in part to employment discrimination. First, the District Court for the Northern District of California has struck down the defense of marriage act, applying heightened scrutiny to the federal office of personnel management’s refusal to award spousal benefits to an employee married to someone of the same sex. The woman whose benefits are at issue is an employee of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Chief Judge had ordered OPM to provide the benefits on the grounds that not doing so violated the Ninth Circuit’s policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. When OPM continued to refuse, Lambda Legal filed the law suit that was just decided, challenging DOMA.
And for a fun diversion, see here (and follow the link) to swap the audio for Lego ads for boys and girls. You know how I feel about “girl” toys and “boy” toys. . . .
