Fight for Domestic Partnership Benefits for Gay Employees

[Pookie]

FYI ...

ACLU Continues Fight for Domestic Partnership Benefits for Gay Employees of the University of Pittsburgh

January 21, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PITTSBURGH – The American Civil Liberties Union filed notice today that it is appealing a recent decision by a trial judge preventing lesbian and gay employees from going forward with their challenge to the University of Pittsburgh’s policy of denying them access to health insurance and other employee benefits for their domestic partners.

“Pitt may be breathing a sigh of relief that it can continue to discriminate against its gay employees, but this fight is far from over,” said Chris Biancheria, a cooperating attorney for the ACLU. “We expected all along that this case was headed for the appeals courts.”

The ACLU is appealing a January 12th decision by Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, which prevents the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations from deciding whether Pitt is in violation of a city law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. The ACLU originally brought suit in 1996 before the Commission on Human Relations on behalf of seven current and former university employees who were unable to obtain health insurance for their domestic partners because of Pitt’s policy. Before the case could be heard, Pitt went before the Court of Common Pleas and got a temporary order preventing the Commission on Human Relations from hearing the case. The January 12th decision makes that order permanent.

“Over the eight years that this case has been going on, Pitt has proven again and again that it is committed to treating its lesbian and gay faculty and staff as second class employees,” said Witold “Vic” Walczak, Legal Director of the ACLU’s Pittsburgh affiliate. “Nearly every other respected research university now offers equal benefits to lesbian and gay employees. When is it going to sink in to university administrators that this policy is both wrong and bad for the university?”

The Judge’s January 12th decision to stop to the lawsuit from going forward was based largely on a law by the General Assembly that was passed in 1999. The law said that state-related colleges and universities cannot be required to provide health benefits because of municipal laws. The university lobbied for the law, which was passed for the specific purpose of denying lesbians and gay men access to equal health benefits for their partners.

Since this litigation began, more and more colleges and universities have voluntarily agreed to provide domestic partnership benefits to lesbian and gay employees. At least 198 colleges and universities across the country now do so. In February 2003, both Temple and Drexel Universities in Pennsylvania began offering their gay employees domestic partnership benefits.

The ACLU has appealed the case to Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, which will hear the appeal later this year.

http://www.aclu.org/LesbianGayRights/LesbianGayRights.cfm?ID=14762&c=101

 

[69forever]

Well maybe there is hope yet. One would think that the most forward looking educational institutions of the country would not only recognize the contributions of their past and present G/L staff, but embrace them.

Sexual orientation has nothing to do with the potential and real contributions one makes to his/her employer. Whether it be an educational institution like a University or a factory.

It just goes back to my premise of financial discrimination against same sex couples by the powers that be. It would be interesting to see what their financial holdings are...insurance???

Hmmm...food for thought.

 

[innocentone]

There is the same problem where I go to school/Work Loyola New Orleans....sigh but they have the great big shield of the Roman Catholic Church to hide behind.... some days though they drive me.... one day they are talking about how social justice is the be all and end all but then come Benifits for GLBT partners they get nervous...sigh...

 

[CharleyH]

Wow. I'm a bit shocked. I'm all over the marriage issue down there, but am surpirised to see that large institutions, or even corps would be so disciminatory. I take my Canadian life for granted I see.

 

[69forever]

There is the same problem where I go to school/Work Loyola New Orleans....sigh but they have the great big shield of the Roman Catholic Church to hide behind.... some days though they drive me.... one day they are talking about how social justice is the be all and end all but then come Benifits for GLBT partners they get nervous...sigh...

First off, welcome to Lit. and the GLBT.

It is amazing isn't it? Every University has it's assets and endowments invested somewhere. Some are a lot more forward thinking than the bottom line, though not many. Back in the '70's there was a big stink about Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI having major investments in South Africa. Change came, in the form of divestiture of those assets, but only after the public and Alumni were made aware of it by demonstrations, some violent. I was there...

Many institutions have their investments in Insurance, does this reflect in their policies towards there employee's? You bet it does. The Public Persona of a major educational institution has to be compromised by the reality of how they treat their people before change will come. Hypocracy at it's worse.

Sighing will not change things...it takes action. In one form or another. Take care. Just my thoughts on the matter....

 

[69forever]

Wow. I'm a bit shocked. I'm all over the marriage issue down there, but am surpirised to see that large institutions, or even corps would be so disciminatory. I take my Canadian life for granted I see.

Shocked at the reality of life in America for "Us"???

They are willing to take and use our knowlege and skills, to increase their power and wealth. But ask for and then heaven forbid, demand equal rights...well the constitution goes out the window then.

Seperation of church and state? Just bring up the "Queer" question and watch the banner's fly like they did during the "Holy Wars". It makes me sick and hang my head to be called an American.

 

[CharleyH]

Shocked at the reality of life in America for "Us"???

They are willing to take and use our knowlege and skills, to increase their power and wealth. But ask for and then heaven forbid, demand equal rights...well the constitution goes out the window then.

Seperation of church and state? Just bring up the "Queer" question and watch the banner's fly like they did during the "Holy Wars". It makes me sick and hang my head to be called an American.

Ok, so I'm not surprised and know how backwards US culture can be while thwarting other cultures 'forward' on the basis of what? The Monroe Doctrine . . . but I didn't want to be 'rude' lol, being a semi 'polite' canadian and all!

I'm just lucky that I can, not only get benefits for any partner I have, and basically get married to a woman should I choose, but if I smoked pot, hell, the more the happier!

We are so close, yet so far away!

 

[Zergplex]

Zergplex Speaks

Somehow I think it's silly that whenever gay/lesbian rights is brought up no one can cite a good reason why they shouldn't have equal rights without quoting from religion (especially since the quotes they make are mostly innaccurate). Seperation of church and state my butt, the state is made up of people who go to church so it can't be THAT seperate.

And just for the record, Canada rocks. ^_^

-Zergplex

 

[69forever]

Ok, so I'm not surprised and know how backwards US culture can be while thwarting other cultures 'forward' on the basis of what? The Monroe Doctrine . . . but I didn't want to be 'rude' lol, being a semi 'polite' canadian and all!

I'm just lucky that I can, not only get benefits for any partner I have, and basically get married to a woman should I choose, but if I smoked pot, hell, the more the happier!

We are so close, yet so far away!

Where did I put that application for Canadian Citizenship???

I am Bi-sexual, but in a monogamous relationship with a wonderful woman. That does not stop me from expressing my outrage at the injustice being done to some of our most productive citizens. If not for this relationship, I could easily be looking at the same discrimination. Even at that, unless we get united in legal form...our love and comittment mean nothing to the state.

So much for family values. Yeah, so close...yet so far away.

 

[innocentone]

69forever, You arnt the only one looking for that canadian app... LOL ( especally if G.W. Idiot gets re-elected--shudder)