Jun 11, 2009 5:40 pm US/Eastern
City Of Miami Passes Domestic Partner Ordinance
It Was A Unanimous Vote
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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The City of Miami Commission unanimously passed a domestic partnership ordinance on Thursday, June 11, 2009.
CBS
Miami Firefighter Melissa Llera, her domestic partner, Melissa Kohn and their son, Ian, applauded and flashed thumbs up Thursday as Miami city commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance extending health care benefits to the domestic partners of city employees.
It would gives them equal access to health insurance for their families regardless of sexual orientation.
"I see terrible things, people who have traumatic events, strokes, accidents," Llera told CBS4's Gary Nelson, "and to have this coverage for my family now in case something like that happens to us takes a load off my shoulders."
The domestic partners benefits measure extends to unmarried gay and straight employees of the city who register their relationships with Miami-Dade County's domestic partner registry.
"It's simply about being equally minded and equally fair," said Commissioner Marc Sarnoff who sponsored the ordinance and called it the "greatest honor" he has had since taking office.
The vote was five to zero in favor of passing the ordinance. When the roll call was over, the audience applauded.
"This is sending a message that tolerance is part of the daily life of the city of Miami," Commissioner Tomas Regalado said.
Chairman Joe Sanchez said the city's lack of benefits for domestic partners has prevented it from attracting the best available talent to the work force. "This is a great day. This city has grown up. This city has matured in many ways," Sanchez said.
The American Civil Liberties Union called the city's action a victory against discrimination. "This was about ending discrimination between families based on the composition of those families," said Howard Simon, executive director of the ACLU of Florida.
Joseph Morradian of the group Save Dade, a gay rights activist organization, said extending domestic partner benefits to unmarried couples makes good business sense. "That's why so many companies have done it," Morradian said. "An employee who isn't distracted and worried about whether [he] or [his] family will have medical care, will be a more productive employee."
Miami joins the cities of North Miami, Miami Beach and Miami Dade County in offering domestic partner benefits to their employees.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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