Mass. Town Rescinds Partner Benefits

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Springfield will soon no longer offer health benefits to unmarried domestic partners of city employees now that same-sex couples are legally allowed to marry in Massachusetts.



Mayor Charles Ryan notified the city clerk on Thursday that he has rescinded all prior executive orders allowing unmarried domestic partners to participate in the city's group health insurance program.


Unmarried domestic partners will not be cut off from access to health insurance immediately. Ryan offered a 90-day grace period to become legally married and retain insurance coverage.


Ryan's predecessor, Michael Albano, had issued an executive order giving unmarried same-sex partners and their dependents insurance coverage, the mayor said.


Ryan's move raised concerns among gay marriage advocates, who said it would force gay couples to get married, or put them at risk to lose benefits they are not currently entitled to under federal laws.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=718&e=7&u=/ap/20040529/ap_on_re_us/gay_marriage_springfield

saving a buck at someone else's expense has become a freaking corporate way of life in this country.

Do they offer benefits to unmarried hetero couples? If not, this is all equal and above board.

:shrug:

Geez.... at least CNN got it right

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Northeast/05/29/same.sex.springfield.ap/

except for boston...

we downsize everything

an 83 acre body of water is certainly a pond, not a lake.

Unmarried hetero couples do not get to share benefits, so if gay marriage is now legal in Massachussets (making hetero and homo equal) it makes sense to deny benefits to unmarried gay couples (again making hetero and homo equal).

It doesn't force them to marry. It just levels the playing field, making heteros and homos equal.