Domestic partner benefits approved
By 4-1 vote, Town Council extends benefits to gay and unmarried heterosexual couples
By Aleese Kopf
Daily News Staff Writer
August 15, 2013
Starting in January, all town employees will be eligible for the same health benefits - regardless of their gender, sexual orientation or marital status.
In a 4-1 vote Wednesday, the Town Council extended its health coverage to domestic partners, which include gay partners and unmarried couples.
The town's employee benefits plan, currently only offered to opposite-sex married employees, includes health insurance, bereavement leave, family illness leave, domestic violence leave and access to the employee assistance program. Domestic partners refers to same- or opposite-sex couples in committed relationships.
Council President David Rosow dissented.
"The State of Florida does not recognize same-sex marriages and quite frankly, I personally do not either," he said. "It's against my principals and my deep, deep personal feelings. That does not mean at all that I would ever personally discriminate against gays. What they do is their business, but this is anathema to my personal principals so I'm not going to support it in any way, shape or form."
Rand Hoch, president and founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, said he thinks Rosow's comments are discriminatory.
"While Rosow said he would not 'personally discriminate against gays,' he voted in support of having the Town of Palm Beach discriminate. His true colors show right through his own comments."
But Hoch was pleased other members of the council approved the benefits.
"Once again, elected officials in Palm Beach County have looked beyond simple dollars and cents and have taken steps to equalize family benefits for their gay and lesbian employees," he wrote in a release.
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By 4-1 vote, Town Council extends benefits to gay and unmarried heterosexual couples
By Aleese Kopf
Daily News Staff Writer
August 15, 2013
Starting in January, all town employees will be eligible for the same health benefits - regardless of their gender, sexual orientation or marital status.
In a 4-1 vote Wednesday, the Town Council extended its health coverage to domestic partners, which include gay partners and unmarried couples.
The town's employee benefits plan, currently only offered to opposite-sex married employees, includes health insurance, bereavement leave, family illness leave, domestic violence leave and access to the employee assistance program. Domestic partners refers to same- or opposite-sex couples in committed relationships.
Council President David Rosow dissented.
"The State of Florida does not recognize same-sex marriages and quite frankly, I personally do not either," he said. "It's against my principals and my deep, deep personal feelings. That does not mean at all that I would ever personally discriminate against gays. What they do is their business, but this is anathema to my personal principals so I'm not going to support it in any way, shape or form."
Rand Hoch, president and founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, said he thinks Rosow's comments are discriminatory.
"While Rosow said he would not 'personally discriminate against gays,' he voted in support of having the Town of Palm Beach discriminate. His true colors show right through his own comments."
But Hoch was pleased other members of the council approved the benefits.
"Once again, elected officials in Palm Beach County have looked beyond simple dollars and cents and have taken steps to equalize family benefits for their gay and lesbian employees," he wrote in a release.
READ MORE.....
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