Jan Brewer's Vendetta Against LGBT Couples

Jan Brewer has an axe to grind. Well, make that multiple axes. We already know the Arizona governor has got a thing for the issue of immigration, given that it's probably the biggest issue that defines her political career. As a proud supporter of the infamous SB 1070, Brewer has made it crystal clear that she's less interested in the humanity and dignity of undocumented immigrants, and more interested in criminalizing those who don't look like they're from her neck of the woods.

But lest folks think that immigration is the only issue that sweeps Jan Brewer's heart away, point your eyes in the direction of partner benefits for LGBT people who work for the state of Arizona. Upon entering office last year, Jan Brewer immediately began work on repealing a policy put in place by former Gov. Janet Napolitano that allowed LGBT couples who worked for the state to share certain benefits with their partners. Brewer was successful, when House Bill 2013 passed and was signed into law. It essentially told LGBT employees who work for the state that they could not share benefits with their partners.

Brewer claimed victory, and pumped her fists in the air. But it was a bit premature, because just last month, a federal judge blocked implementation of House Bill 2013, telling Brewer and the rest of the state of Arizona that denying family health insurance benefits to state employees' same-sex partners was a violation of the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution.

You might think that Brewer would let things lie low, given the rebuke by a federal judge. But nope. Brewer wants to fight this federal judge, issuing a statement today through a spokesperson that LGBT employees won't be able to share benefits with their partners unless it's over her dead body.

"We are appealing the preliminary injunction because we disagree with the federal court's initial injunction ruling and we believe the legislature has the ultimate authority to make state employee benefit decisions," said Brewer's spokesperson, Paul Senseman, according to azcentral.com.

That's a lot of injunctions in one quote. But jumping past the legalese, it essentially means that Brewer doesn't like that a federal judge believes there are some protections for LGBT Americans under the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution. Them's fighting words for Brewer, and she's going to go to bat for homophobic legislation that will literally leave the partners of some LGBT employees up a creek without a paddle. Or to put it more accurately, up a creek without any health insurance benefits.

Why would Brewer want to pursue a vendetta like this against LGBT couples in Arizona? Perhaps there's something cold and calculating in her heart that makes her think that it's "pro-life" to deny people benefits. Who knows. But if you listen to Brewer herself, she'll tell you that God allowed her to become governor of Arizona to help the state "weather" its troubles.

Sounds to me like "weathering," at least in Jan Brewer's lexicon, means targeting minority populations in the state, and working hard to beat them down.

Well, hey ... bring it on, Brewer. Because if you want to make the case that it's moral to deny gay and lesbian people certain benefits, that's a debate many of us are prepared to have, and a debate that you're going to lose.

Photo credit: azgovernor.gov