a lesbian couple who battled against a medical service provider for refusing to perform an insemination procedure on Benitez because of religious beliefs. As a result of the provider’s refusal to treat Benitez, she and her partner had to pay thousands of dollars for a doctor not covered by an insurance plan.

Benitez decided to contact Lambda Legal, who decided to take the case for free. “People are entitled to have their religious views,” says Jennifer Pizer, senior counsel with Lambda Legal, in the press release. “They are not entitled to act on those views to the detriment of other people in the public marketplace. In Lupita’s case, the doctors did not object to a procedure or a treatment. They perform inseminations all the time. They objected to a person.”

California civil rights law says that doctors are prohibited from discriminating against people on the basis of sexual orientation. However, the doctors say that federal and state constitutions let them “consciously object” to performing a service due to their religious beliefs. The State Supreme Court is still deciding which side is correct. But though the case hasn’t been decided, in 2003, it produced the first published court decision in America which says that people, under California’s civil rights law, can sue their providers if they believe they are being discriminated against because they are gay.

The show focuses on the important parties in this case and the personal story of the two women. To find out what day and time this show is playing in your area, go to the official Web site, www.IntheLifeTV.org .

Until next time!