What Does It Mean For Hospitality Employers?
By Melinda Caterine (Hospitality Labor Letter, No. 3, September 2009) So far, six states have legalized same-sex marriages: Massachusetts; Connecticut; Iowa; Vermont; Maine; and New Hampshire. The Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa laws are already in effect. The other states have enacted laws that will take effect within the next six months: the Vermont law will take effect on September 1, 2009; the Maine law will take effect 90 days after the close of the legislative session, or approximately September 12, 2009; and the New Hampshire law will take effect on January 1, 2010. These state laws raise a number of complex legal questions as well as a multitude of practical considerations for employers. Here’s a quick overview of the legal landscape. The Federal Defense Of Marriage Act The federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) provides that “marriage” means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife and defines “spouse” as a person of the opposite sex who is a hu
