Seattle, Washington -
Seattle City Council has voted unanimously to give the partners of gay and lesbian city workers the same benefits it gives the spouses of its married employees.
The move comes just one month after Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels issued an executive order recognizing same-sex marriages. Although gay marriage is not legal in Washington, many same-sex couples from the city have married in Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, or Canada.
Seattle has been offering domestic-partner benefits to same-sex couples since 1989. The new law extends that for civic workers to allow for the transfer of city-issued business licenses to the spouse of a same-sex married couple in the event the other spouse dies, just as it does now to the spouse in an opposite-sex marriage.
It also extends legal representation to the spouse of a city volunteer who is in a same-sex marriage, if that volunteer is sued while performing city work. Current law requires the city to defend the spouse of a volunteer in an opposite-sex marriage.
And, it provides benefits, including sick leave, family and medical leave and bereavement leave to gay employees in same-sex relationships.
"Ten years ago this city showed leadership when we passed legislation establishing domestic-partner benefits," said City Council President Jan Drago. "This (action today) expands that to include same-sex married partners, making it easier for them to receive these benefits."
Councilman Nick Licata, chairman of the Public Safety, Civil Rights & Arts Committee and a sponsor of the legislation, said offering such benefits levels the playing field for all married couples and is long overdue.
Last month six-same couples in Washington began a suit against the state for the right to marry.
©365Gay.com® 2004
The move comes just one month after Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels issued an executive order recognizing same-sex marriages. Although gay marriage is not legal in Washington, many same-sex couples from the city have married in Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, or Canada.
Seattle has been offering domestic-partner benefits to same-sex couples since 1989. The new law extends that for civic workers to allow for the transfer of city-issued business licenses to the spouse of a same-sex married couple in the event the other spouse dies, just as it does now to the spouse in an opposite-sex marriage.
It also extends legal representation to the spouse of a city volunteer who is in a same-sex marriage, if that volunteer is sued while performing city work. Current law requires the city to defend the spouse of a volunteer in an opposite-sex marriage.
And, it provides benefits, including sick leave, family and medical leave and bereavement leave to gay employees in same-sex relationships.
"Ten years ago this city showed leadership when we passed legislation establishing domestic-partner benefits," said City Council President Jan Drago. "This (action today) expands that to include same-sex married partners, making it easier for them to receive these benefits."
Councilman Nick Licata, chairman of the Public Safety, Civil Rights & Arts Committee and a sponsor of the legislation, said offering such benefits levels the playing field for all married couples and is long overdue.
Last month six-same couples in Washington began a suit against the state for the right to marry.
©365Gay.com® 2004
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.
