Austin Mulls Gay Partner Benefits

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/02/020106austin.htm

Members of the Austin City Council said they want to put to voters a proposition that would extend health benefits to city employees' gay or straight partners.

Council member Brewster McCracken called for repealing an existing prohibition on offering partner benefits. The proposal for the May 13 ballot would extend coverage to either a domestic partner or a family member living with a city employee.

"This is about principle, about correcting something that has been unfair," McCracken said.

The City Council approved offering domestic partner benefits in 1993.

[LynneSin]

1. This is how we're going to make a difference for the GBLT community

We try pushing this on a Federal or State level and you get all the idiots who fear somehow their marriage will be ruined if we allow loving, same-sex partners to have the same benefits as opposite sex couples.

For the past 10 years I've been working at major corporations that allow benefits for domestic partners plus it's great to see cities like Austin, states like Massachusetts and other places across the country are doing the same.

One day (and I hope that it is soon) we'll wake up into a world where everyone is treated as equals and receive the same rights & benefits regardless of sexual orientation. But I think for that to happen we need to start with these victories like the one that I can almost guarantee will happen in Austin and building it from there.