Dyer announces plans for same-sex benefits for city employees -- OrlandoSentinel.com

Dyer announces plans for same-sex benefits for city employees -- OrlandoSentinel.com

Dyer announces plans for same-sex benefits for city employees
Jeff Kunerth and Mark Schlueb

Sentinel Staff Writers

October 3, 2008

Mayor Buddy Dyer announced plans Thursday to offer domestic-partner benefits to gay city employees when the City Council approves changes to its employee health-care policy Monday.

Orlando will be the first government in Central Florida to do so. It joins about two dozen other cities in Florida that provide domestic-partner benefits to city employees.

"We've been looking at doing it for quite a while. I think it's the right thing to do," Dyer said.

Domestic partners will have to sign an affidavit declaring they are in a committed relationship.

But the domestic-partner benefits will apply only to same-sex couples, not unmarried straight couples.

"They have the option of marriage," Dyer said.

The change was cheered by gay community leaders as a major step forward in recognition of gay rights.

"The mayor and the City Council are saying that we are as equal as anyone and deserve the same benefits," said Michael Vance, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Community Center of Central Florida.

Dyer is scheduled to talk about the change in policy at the Oct. 12 Come Out With Pride 2008 at Lake Eola Park -- one of the largest gay-pride events in the state. Last year's event drew 30,000 people. This year organizers will hold a rally against Amendment 2, which would put a ban on gay marriage into the state constitution.

Dyer is expected to reiterate his opposition to the amendment as a potential threat to domestic partnerships in Florida.

"I think it exhibits great personal and political courage by the mayor to take steps that benefit the families of Orlando employees and propel Orlando forward as a major and progressive player, knowing that it will be viewed by some as controversial," said Mary Meek, spokeswoman for Come Out With Pride.


'Strategically timed'?

John Stemberger, whose Longwood-based Flo rida4Marriage.org raised the signatures to put Amendment 2 on the Nov. 4 ballot, characterized the mayor's announcement as politically calculated.

"It sounds like it is very strategically timed to interject himself into this amendment," Stemberger said.

He questioned whether the city can afford to provide the same health benefits to gay couples as it does to married employees. The city estimates it will cost about an additional $37,000 to the overall, one-year employee health-care premium of $33 million.

Stemberger added that providing such benefits to gay couples would not be affected by the passage of Amendment 2.

"I'm not sure it's the greatest public policy, but the amendment would not prohibit it," Stemberger said.

Opponents to Amendment 2 say the language of the law could jeopardize domestic partnerships under the clause that states: "No other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized."

"It directs the state not to recognize anything that isn't marriage," said Derek Newton, campaign manager for Florida Red and Blue, a group that opposes the amendment.

Mat Staver, who wrote Amendment 2, said domestic partnerships are protected because they are not the "substantial equivalent" of marriage.

"Domestic partnerships have some of the benefits of marriage, but not nearly all of the rights, privileges and benefits of marriage," said Staver, head of the Maitland-based Liberty Counsel, which has filed lawsuits throughout the country challenging gay rights.

Orange, Osceola, Lake, Volusia and Seminole counties do not offer domestic-partner benefits for employees who are unmarried couples.

Kissimmee is looking into domestic-partner benefits for gay and straight employees, city officials said, but other Central Florida cities do not provide domestic-partnership benefits to city workers.


City looked at policies

Orlando made the decision to change its domestic-partnership policy for gay employees after reviewing similar policies of private companies in Central Florida, including Disney, Universal and the Orlando Sentinel. Orlando's only Fortune 500 company, Darden Restaurants, has offered same-sex domestic-partner benefits since 2000.

Commissioner Patty Sheehan, who is gay, pushed for the change for years.

"I'm glad to see that it's finally happening," she said. "We want to be able to attract quality employees."