AAA Club South won't treat partners as spouses

[Ian David]

ACTION ALERT: AAA Club South won't treat partners as spouses

ACTION ALERT:

AAA Club South
President Thomas E. O’Brien
1515 North Westshore Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33607
813-289-1467
www.aaasouth.com

Stop AAA Club South
www.stopaaasouth.com



Tom Payton of Athens has been a member of the AAA auto club since 1994. After he and his partner, Art Ordoqui, held their wedding in August on the campus of the University of Georgia, Payton wanted to include Ordoqui as an associate member on his AAA membership.

But the couple quickly learned that because their marriage is not recognized legally, AAA Club South does not consider them family. AAA Club South serves AAA members in Florida, Georgia, western Tennessee and Puerto Rico.

“Only spouses or dependent children up to the age of 21 (if in college to age 25) meet our criteria for associate membership,” AAA Club South wrote to Payton in a letter dated Oct. 7. “This policy has been reviewed on several occasions over the years and we have determined that these are the appropriate guidelines for our membership discounts …

“Your partner does not qualify as an associate; however, we would gladly enroll him as a primary member,” the letter said.

A primary AAA membership costs $60 a year while an associate member can be added to the primary member’s account for $30 a year.

AAA Club South defines spouse as a legal term according to Georgia law, according to a company spokesperson.

“We are not in the position to bypass state law,” said Greg Laskoski, spokesperson for AAA Club South.

A Georgia law passed in 1996 specifically defines marriage as only between a man and a woman, and refuses to recognize gay marriages performed in other states. Last November, voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment adding the definition to the state constitution.

“We’ve gotten complaints before and all of these are being taken into consideration. This policy is not intended to discriminate,” Laskoski said.

Lagging behind?
Payton launched a Web site, www.stopaaasouth.com, to try to change the auto club’s policies relating to gay families.

AAA Club South won't treat partners as spouses @ Southernvoice.com * More news @ gay_blog.blogspot.com

More:
http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2005/10/action-alert-aaa-club-south-wont-treat.html

http://www.topix.net/r/07YhysJ3mJBJnwDvAsFNsokykUYBh6qMxrXmlvJpNUhULJAR4p4JEY4=2F3qi655hstBOri48N5oXRiNxOJsJn67FxYP9LbfrvHxlcHeKfBMLBT4ilJcRFYohlGixgqQm=2BS

[davidinalameda]

1. "This policy is not intended to discriminate"

guess what asshole, it does!

[Mythsaje]

2. "We're not in a position to bypass state law."

Who's asking you to? We're not talking LAW here, punk-ass, we're talking about YOUR policy, which YOU have the power to change.

Cretin.

[kevinbgoode]

3. Hmm..and I carry AAA auto insurance. . .

perhaps its time for me to go shopping.

[icymist]

4. Me too as well.

Discrimination is ugly, everywhere it is discovered.