A potentially polarizing vote is expected tonight on whether the City Council should extend benefits to same-sex partners of city employees. Councilman Gordon Smith is asking the council to move forward with the idea of giving same-sex domestic partners health insurance, bereavement leave and other benefits.
If a majority votes yes, city staff would come back to the council at a later date with information including estimated costs and who would qualify. A final vote on the measure could then follow. Granting the benefits would “provide equal rights to our employees who are denied the option to marry,” Smith said.
A majority of the seven-member council – whose makeup became more liberal after November’s election – have already said they support the idea and would likely vote for the ultimate extension of benefits.
Full Story from the Citizen-Times
Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.
