Gay and Straight Partners of State Employees to Cash in on Benefits
Posted By L. Anthony Bompiani, Esquire on May 15, 2009 9:30am PDT
Starting
July 1, 2009, unmarried gay or straight partners of state workers will
qualify for medical, prescription-drug, dental and vision coverage.
The move, of course, stirred up political arguments and debates. Gay
and lesbian rights supporters believe it represents a solid step toward
fairness for everyone. Social conservatives feel that Governor Rendell
is imposing liberal, big-city values on the entire state without public
input.
To qualify as a domestic partner under the new law, state employees
must show proof of three factors from a list that includes joint
ownership of a home, joint title to a car, the same addresses on
driver's licenses or a shared bank account.