Bexar County adds same-sex benefits
Bexar County has become the latest government entity in Texas to offer benefits to the same-sex partners of employees.
According to Equality Texas, Bexar County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to allow employees to add any “Plus One Qualifying Adult” to their insurance. County Judge Nelson Wolff and Precinct 2 Commissioner Paul Elizondo quietly placed the proposal on the agenda to avoid controversy associated with other recent pro-LGBT measures in San Antonio.
The “Plus One” approach — which allows employees to cover any cohabiting, financially interdependent adult — is designed to get around an opinion from Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott saying traditional domestic partner benefits plans violate the state’s constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
“Whether it’s a man-woman, man-man, woman-woman, whatever. It’s their business, their private life, but they have a right to be treated equally,” Wolff told Texas Public Radio. “It’s up to the two people in home what their relationship is. We’re not going to go open up your bedroom doors. If you meet the criteria you’re going to be eligible regardless of what your relationship is.”
More at http://www.lonestarq.com/bexar-county-vote-adding-sex-benefits/ .
Cross-posted in the LGBT Group.
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