federal Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional

The Supreme Court of the United States issued an opinion today holding that the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. This unlocks numerous legal rights and benefits for spouses in same-sex couples including the federal benefits that opposite-sex married couples are entitled to, like Social Security, Medicare, spousal tax rules, Medicaid spousal impoverishment rules, intestate succession laws, and much more.

Since same-sex marriage is not offered in West Virginia our state's lesbian and gay couples will still not be able to avail themselves of these new legal rights unless they marry in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage.

Much of the legal impact of this case is yet to be determined. You can find information sheets about what this historic case means at the National Center for Lesbian Rights website www.nclrights.org/site/PageServer?pagename=DOMA_FAQ_2013

Jim Shepherd dies at age 101

Many of the parks in Monongalia County WV owe their creation to Jim Shepherd, including Mason Dixon Park, Chestnut Ridge Regional Park, and Dorsey's Knob which he helped the City of Morgantown create when he was in his late 90's. Jim died this week at age 101, a wonderful example of older people making valuable contributions to building community by preserving natural places for recreation.