EqualMarriage [2]

WASHINGTON -- Gerry Studds, America's first openly gay congressman, pushed the country to another landmark development when he died Saturday: the federal government for the first time will deny death benefits to a congressman's gay spouse. The US government does not recognize the 2004 Massachusetts' marriage between Studds and Dean Hara, and won't provide a portion of Studds' $114,337 annual pension to his surviving spouse.

Note: Read full article on www.lowellsun.com [3]