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Loading ...Orlando grants gay partner benefits to city workers
10.07.2008 4:54pm EDT
(Orlando, Florida) The city of Orlando is granting health benefits to the same-sex partners of municipal workers.
The measure, proposed by Mayor Buddy Dyer, was unanimously accepted by city council Monday.“I think it’s the right thing to do,” said Dyer.
The move makes Orlando the first local government in Central Florida to provide the benefits, although about two dozen other cities in the state already provide similar benefits.
To join the plan, gay and lesbian employees will have to sign an affidavit swearing they are in a long-term, committed relationship.
Lesbian city commissioner Patty Sheehan said the change will not affect a large number of employees, but is still meaningful and to those workers’ families who will benefit.
“It’s a matter of life and death to them,” Sheehan said.
The change will cost the city an estimated $37,000; its health insurance costs are currently $33million.
It will not apply to unmarried heterosexual employees. Dyer said that opposite-sex couples have the legal option to marry, unlike gays.
A group fighting for an amendment to the state constitution accused the mayor of trying to influence the vote.
“It sounds like it is very strategically timed to interject himself into this amendment,” John Stemberger of Florida4Marriage said.
A group fighting for an amendment to the state constitution accused the mayor of trying to influence the vote.
“It sounds like it is very strategically timed to interject himself into this amendment,” John Stemberger of Florida4Marriage said.
But wait….the proponents of this hateful amendment have specifically stated it would not be used to deny health benefits to same-sex couples. If that is true, why should they care??
The answer is that they DO care because that is exactly their intent. Just as was done at the University of Michigan after a similar amendment was passed.
And bit by bit, the bigots who follow the churches of hatred, and the poison these churches have injected into our society will lose.
And these Hypocrites for God will be exposed for all to see.