Seven gay couples filed suit against the state of Montana on July 22
seeking legal recognition of their relationships and charging violations
of the state constitution’s guarantees of equal protection, due process,
privacy, dignity and pursuit of life’s basic necessities.
Since Montana’s constitution bans same-sex marriage, the couples want the
state to implement a marriagelike domestic-partnership law as several
other states have done.
“It’s unfair for same-sex couples who have made commitments and formed
families to be treated by the state like legal strangers,” said Betsy
Griffing of the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana, which is
helping with the case.
By Rex Wockner
