Posted on 07/10/2004 12:31:31 PM PDT by wagglebee
Ohio University is offering "domestic-partner" benefits to employees, but only same-sex couples can apply.
Some critics say the school is setting itself up for a lawsuit by employees who want to add a live-in boyfriend or girlfriend to their insurance plans, the Athens, Ohio, News reported.
Eric Clift, a technical services specialist in OU's College of Osteopathic Medicine, told the paper if a heterosexual employee were to legally challenge the new policy as discriminatory, the university might have to either revoke the benefits for gay and lesbian employees, or extend them to straight employees, "which I have to think would (financially) cripple the benefits package at OU."
OU spokesperson Hub Burton responded to the criticism, explaining that in extending domestic-partner benefits only to same-sex couples, OU "chose to focus on those who don't have the right to get legally married. ... This is a matter of economic fairness."
The university explains its position on its website.
Burton noted other schools have a similar policy, including Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, which announced its new domestic-partner benefits policy the same day as OU's announcement.
Clift, however, says the policy discriminates against heterosexual couples who don't want to get married.
"You're forcing heterosexuals to get married to get these benefits," he told the Athens News.
Burton said the school expects the added costs to be negligible, with an estimated 20 employees likely to sign up at a projected cost of between $50,000 and $100,000, the News reported.
Not all homosexual partners will receive the benefits.
The school defines domestic partners as individuals who are of the same sex, and share a regular and permanent residence, have a committed personal relationship, can demonstrate financial interdependence and who are not legally married or in another domestic partnership. Also, the couples must attest they have been together for at least six months.
Homosexual Agenda Ping. I just can't get out of here! More and more crap coming down the chute. Remember the Tsunami of Sludge? Comin' atcha!
Sooo, two men or two women claiming a "relationship" - IOW, they live together and practice mutual sodomy - get rewarded. How special.
Let me know if anyone wants on/off this pinglist.
I noticed one comment - what about two BROTHERS? Why the he!! not? I hope bunches of brothers, and sisters, start applying. Or mothers and daughters, fathers and sons. Or just two regular "normal" room mates.
Pretty soon there will be no sexually normal people working for universities. I guess that's part of the plan.
the point of homoadvocates is to imply all same sex cohabitation is secretly homosexual in nature.
The want to make all heterosexual conduct penalized or not rewarded while homosexual conduct is rewarded.
Even if this means normal people just living together will claim homosexuality to gain financial benefit.
Don't forget the FMA vote is comming this week.
Kerry/edwards say they are going to vote against it because "it should be left to the states". They conveniently ignore the FACT that passing in the senate DOES MOVE THIS ISSUE TO THE STATES.
The media is conveniently skipping that fact too.
Oh, yes - just find a roommate who has a serious ailment, and you can probably charge premium rent.
Exactly, now please explain to me how private businesses are supposed to support this?
this begs for the flashback of the homosexual group which had to cut health insurance for recreational live in sex partners due to costs. (posted here on FR months back)
While some warn that this "is a trap" designed to get Americans to accept same sex roommate benefits, I still contend that there is no legal basis for such payouts.
In the absence of a marriage, ALL roommates should be elligible if this policy is to stand. There should not be an imposition of a "sexual relationship" (whether heterosexual or homosexual) to qualify the roommate for health care. And that should extend to family members (parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc.) who live with the employee.
Lawsuit! Lawsuit!
Same crime, same time.
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