IL Gov Extends Benefits to Gays
For Immediate Release
May 8, 2006
Contact:
Rick Garcia
312-560-0405
ILLINOIS GOVERNOR EXTENDS BENEFITS TO GAY EMPLOYEES
Gay Rights Groups Hail Governor's Action
CHICAGO -- With no fanfare, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has extended domestic partner benefits to gay and lesbian employees of the State of Illinois. The action was hailed as a great step in protecting all Illinois families by the state's leading gay rights organization. Illinois becomes the 13th State to offer such benefits.
"The extension of domestic partner benefits is not only the fair and just thing to do it also strengthens Illinois families," said Rick Garcia, public policy director of Equality Illinois. "We commend the governor for making Illinois a beacon for fairness and equality."
"Gay and lesbian employees are entitled to have equal benefits for equal work and our families need the same protections as other Illinoisans," Garcia stated.
Such benefits are commonplace in the private sector with most Fortune 500 companies offering domestic partner benefits to their employees. In Illinois the County of Cook, the Village of Oak Park, and the cities of Chicago and Urbana are among the municipalities that offer such benefits to their gay employees.
In 2005 Illinois became the 15th state to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and only the fifth state to ban discrimination on the basis of gender identity. Other states that offer domestic partner benefits are California, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
"This is all about fairness and treating our families equally" Garcia said. "We commend the governor for looking out for all Illinois families including gay and lesbian one."
May 8, 2006
Contact:
Rick Garcia
312-560-0405
ILLINOIS GOVERNOR EXTENDS BENEFITS TO GAY EMPLOYEES
Gay Rights Groups Hail Governor's Action
CHICAGO -- With no fanfare, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has extended domestic partner benefits to gay and lesbian employees of the State of Illinois. The action was hailed as a great step in protecting all Illinois families by the state's leading gay rights organization. Illinois becomes the 13th State to offer such benefits.
"The extension of domestic partner benefits is not only the fair and just thing to do it also strengthens Illinois families," said Rick Garcia, public policy director of Equality Illinois. "We commend the governor for making Illinois a beacon for fairness and equality."
"Gay and lesbian employees are entitled to have equal benefits for equal work and our families need the same protections as other Illinoisans," Garcia stated.
Such benefits are commonplace in the private sector with most Fortune 500 companies offering domestic partner benefits to their employees. In Illinois the County of Cook, the Village of Oak Park, and the cities of Chicago and Urbana are among the municipalities that offer such benefits to their gay employees.
In 2005 Illinois became the 15th state to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and only the fifth state to ban discrimination on the basis of gender identity. Other states that offer domestic partner benefits are California, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
"This is all about fairness and treating our families equally" Garcia said. "We commend the governor for looking out for all Illinois families including gay and lesbian one."
posted by Carlos T Mock at 8:21 PM
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