Domestic Partnership News Archive
February 14 - February 20, 2001

Tuesday, February 20, 2001

Britain may include same-sex couples in victim compensation law

A story published today in Planet Out reports that Britain's Labour Government is ready to take a leap forward in recognition of gay and lesbian couples: a proposed revamping of victims of crime compensation benefits includes provisions for their survivors for the first time.

Home Secretary Jack Straw announced the proposal on February 17 as he spoke at conference in Glasgow and it was presented in a written response by Lord Bassam to a written Parliamentary Question by Lord Graham of Edmonton.

As Lord Bassam noted, significant pressure for the move began in the wake of the 1999 bombing of Soho's gay Admiral Duncan pub, in which non-gay Julian Dykes who lost his wife Andrea qualified for compensation but his gay friend Gary Partridge who lost his life partner John Light did not.

Parliamentary approval of the changes to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme will be sought, with the revisions scheduled to go into effect April 1, but the Opposition Conservative Party has already indicated it will resist the inclusion of gay and lesbian couples.

Currently only parents, children, spouses, and heterosexual cohabitants of at least two years' standing qualify for the 10,000 pounds government benefit for survivors of those who die as a result of crimes. Gay and lesbian couples would have the same standing as unmarried heterosexual cohabitants under the Government's proposal. Lord Bassam wrote,

The proposal would apply to residents of England, Wales and Scotland.

The package of proposed changes to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme grew out of a 1999 consultation paper "Compensation for Victims of Violent Crime: Possible Changes to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme" and is projected to add twenty million pounds to the current 200 million pounds annual compensation budget. The package includes increased compensation for several categories of injuries, increased funding for Victim Support services, and modifications to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. Infection with HIV in the course of a crime will become grounds for compensation for the first time.

Mohegan Sun to offer partner benefits to its employees

A story released today over PRNewswire reports that Mohegan Sun announced today that it plans to offer
healthcare benefits to domestic partners of its full-and part-time employees effective April 1, 2001.

During the March 1- March 31 enrollment period, domestic partners, whether same-sex or opposite-sex, as well as their dependent children will be able to sign up for Mohegan Sun's benefit plan from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. The benefit plan includes fully-paid medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage. Mohegan Sun is currently working toward extending the domestic partner offering to also include life insurance and long term disability coverage.

"Employees are the core of our success and Mohegan Sun is committed to attracting and retaining the most talented employee population in the region," said Bill Velardo, general manager of Mohegan Sun. "Our goal is to ensure that Mohegan Sun is a great place for all people to work and this initiative is yet another step toward achieving that goal."

"Since opening, we've continued to create opportunities to become a progressive and outstanding employer and to continually meet the needs of our employees," said Kevin Bogle, vice president of Human Resources for Mohegan Sun. "The way we treat our nearly 6,000 employees and our unparalleled commitment to employee benefits and services has not gone unnoticed. Last year, The Hay Group, one of the world's largest human resources consulting firms, reported that Mohegan Sun's benefits program was in the top 10% in the region."

According to a recent survey of 266 employers in Connecticut conducted by Connecticut Human Resource Reports, only 6% offer domestic partner coverage. However, a national survey conducted by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in Washington, D.C. reports that during 2000, the number of employers offering health insurance coverage to the domestic partners of their employees has risen 25%.

To be considered for domestic partner benefits, employees must fulfill the following requirements:

-- Full-time employee (scheduled at least 30 hours a week on a regular basis) who has been employed for at least 90 days or a part-time employee (scheduled at least 20 hours a week on a regular basis) who has been employed for at least six (6) months
-- Both parties are at least eighteen (18) years of age, and are, and were when the domestic partner relationship began, mentally competent to consent and enter into contract.
-- Both parties currently share a common legal residence and have shared said residence for at least twelve (12) months prior to application for, Domestic Partner coverage and plan to do so indefinitely.
-- Domestic Partners must be jointly responsible for basic living expenses.
-- Both parties are in a relationship of mutual support, caring, and commitment and intend to remain in such a relationship in the indefinite future.

Within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence, as well as a wealth of popular activities and attractions in Mystic Places, Mohegan Sun is already renowned as a legendary entertainment and gaming center. It is now evolving into a multidimensional destination featuring 1,200 hotel rooms, and premier meeting space.

Wednesday, February 14, 2001

Federal bill would give spousal immigration rights to same-sex 'permanent partners'

A story published today in Planet Out reports that Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), used Valentine's Day to
introduce a bill that would grant same-gender partners of U.S. citizens and permanent residents the same immigration rights as heterosexual spouses.

"I think introducing a bill which aims to keep loving and committed relationships together is a perfect way to celebrate Valentine's Day," said Nadler.

But his Permanent Partner Immigration Act (PPIA) faces as difficult a future as star-crossed lovers. After being introduced in February of 2000, the bill received support of almost 60 co-sponsors but was prevented from reaching a vote by the same House leadership that's setting the 2001 legislative agenda.

The PPIA would change the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to include the term "permanent partner" in the sections of the law that grant immigration rights to "spouses." Currently, U.S. citizens are unable to use a committed relationship as grounds for sponsoring a same-gender partner's immigration application.

Nadler called his bill "simply a matter of common sense and fairness. Why do we allow the government to tear apart committed and loving couples just because of who they love? The answer is that there is no excuse for this gratuitous cruelty."

At least 13 countries currently allow same-gender partners to immigrate, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, as well as most of Scandinavia and much of Western Europe. Some of these nations also allow unmarried heterosexual couples to immigrate if they have a long-term relationship.

Congressman introduces bill for same-sex benefits for federal workers

A story published today by Planet Out reports that gay U.S. Representative Barney Frank (D-Mass) has introduced legislation to give same-gender partners of federal employees the same benefits as married spouses. This is the second time around for the bill, which would affect retirement, life insurance, health insurance, and workers' compensation benefits. Frank introduced it last year, but it never reached a vote.

Frank stated that "[D]uring the debate over the Defense of Marriage Act, many supporters of the bill, including both Republican and Democratic members of Congress, as well as the Clinton/Gore administration, expressed their belief that while gay and lesbian couples should not be eligible for the institution of marriage, fairness dictated that they have access to many of the same benefits provided to married couples."

"This bill offers them an opportunity to put their words into action," said Frank.

Colorado's proposed ban on partner benefits rejected by legislative committee

A story published today by Planet Out reports that Colorado state Senator Marilyn Musgrave's (R-Fort Morgan) SB 139 to prohibit the use of public funds to extend benefits to gay and lesbian state employees' domestic partners, was killed February 12 by a 4 - 3 party line vote of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Colorado does not currently offer such benefits although a few of its cities and many of its major private sector employers do.

Finland debates registered partnerships

A story published today in Planet Out reports that Finland's parliament has opened debate on creating legal registered partnerships with most of the rights and responsibilities of marriage except for adoption, according to the Nordic Business Report.  The bill was introduced by the Government in mid-December by President Tarja Halonen.

A similar bill had failed in the past, but now the parties of the governing coalition hold a majority in parliament.