{"id":5664,"date":"2011-09-17T19:14:34","date_gmt":"2011-09-17T19:14:34","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2011-09-17T19:14:34","modified_gmt":"2011-09-17T19:14:34","slug":"stage-collapse-brings-gay-rights-in-indiana-to-the-forefront-of-equality-battle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/proudparenting.com\/2011\/09\/stage-collapse-brings-gay-rights-in-indiana-to-the-forefront-of-equality-battle\/","title":{"rendered":"Stage collapse brings gay rights in Indiana to the forefront of equality battle"},"content":{"rendered":"

Legal claims filed by the partners of two lesbians killed in the Indiana Fair stage collapse could make the state re-examine how it defines survivors in wrongful death cases despite the state\u2019s unwillingness to recognize same-sex unions.<\/p>\n

The courts could choose to define next of kin more broadly to include people who live together, share bank accounts, have children together or are otherwise committed to sharing their lives. Christina Santiago and Tammy VanDam were among seven people who died after Sugarland’s stage toppled. <\/p>\n

Santiago\u2019s partner, Alisha Brennon, and VanDam\u2019s partner, Beth Urschel, were injured. Indiana\u2019s wrongful death statute allows next of kin to collect damages. But those are technically people related by DNA, adoption or marriage, said Jennifer A. Drobac, a professor at the Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you behave like a family, then we\u2019ll call you a family,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

[via AP<\/a>]<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n