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In support of benefits for same-sex couples |
Current rating: 0 |
by Kimberlie Kranich
Email: kakranich (nospam) yahoo.com (unverified!) |
24 Jan 2004
Modified: 11:37:08 AM |
On January 20, the Urbana City Council, in a 5-0 voted, extended paid sick, bereavement and family medical leave to city employees in same-sex relationships. This ordinance now allows gay and lesbian employees to receive some of the same benefits as heterosexual employees.
Below is my speech before the City Council in favor of the ordinance. Alderman Joe Whelan not only opposed the ordinance, but he used the vote as an opportunity to invalidate and undermine same-sex relationships. |
I am here to speak in support of the proposed ordinance for paid sick, bereavement and family medical leave for employees of the City of Urbana who are in same-sex relationships.
I want to thank Ms. Wyman for spearheading this effort and for the council members who have committed their support: Ms. Patt, Ms. Wyman, Mr. Hayes, Ms. Huth and Mr. Otto. And thank you to city staff Mr. Walden and Ms. Shannon for their support. It is not often the case that you as city council members receive praise for what you do. You have a thankless job for which you devote many hours for peanuts pay. I thank you for your good work.
I would also hope and encourage you, after passing this ordinance tonight, to work towards adding health care benefits for city employees in same-sex relationships. When you do this, I hope you will not go the route that the U of I has taken which, instead of full benefits, is an insurance reimbursement package. Under this package, the same-sex partner of a U of I employee must still obtain her or his own insurance policy separate from her or his partner’s plan, and must pay all of the premium costs upfront and is reimbursed quarterly. In cases of pre-existing conditions, the same-sex partner might be unable to get insurance coverage or will be unable to pay the high premium. These upfront costs are huge compared to what it costs to add a domestic partner or spouse to an employees’ existing policy.
I haven’t thanked Mr. Whelan because he was quoted in the News Gazette as being opposed to the policy change you are about to pass tonight. According to him:
“The (city council) has no regard for traditional values, but traditional values have withstood the test of time.”
I don’t know which traditional values Mr. Whelan is referring to. Could it be the value of the husband as head of the household and the wife as property of her husband? Then I guess same-sex relationships are a threat to traditional values because we are trying to redefine marriage as a partnership between two equals of the same or opposite sex.
And, speaking of sex, perhaps it is gay and lesbian sex that is so threatening to “traditional values” because gay and lesbian people don’t define sex as “penis-to-vagina intercourse.” There are so many more ways to satisfy and be satisfied. Heterosexual men who are impotent only need look at our gay and lesbian sex manuals to understand how to please their wives. You might learn something and save some money on Viagra!
What I find even more appalling about Mr. Whelan’s comments -- and by the way, I recognize that Mr. Whelan’s views represent the views of many many people in this country from the President on down – is this other quote from him in the News Gazette.
“To equate gay and lesbian relationships with some partner of some kind to a married couple just belittles the marriage contract and the state of matrimony. “
How does love between two people belittle anything? You belittle us by negating our relationships and condemning them over and over again. Your barrage is relentless. Extramarital affairs, spousal abuse, spousal rape and a feeling of superiority over another – these are the ways in which you belittle a marriage contract, not through gay and lesbian relationships.
Your words are misplaced and they are destructive and spiritually violent to gay and lesbian people. Society doesn’t expect our relationships to last, and neither do we. Yet, despite all the odds, we do enjoy long lasting same-sex relationships of 10, 20, 30, 40 even 50 years. Lynn Sprout would still be with her same-sex partner of 18 years if her partner had not died.
To the lesbian or gay person who is searching for support to make her or his relationship last, I have two suggestions for books written by Dr. Betty Berzon who herself has been in a healthy 30 year same-sex relationship. “Permanent Partners: Building Gay and Lesbian Relationships That Last,” and “The Intimacy Dance: A Guide to Long-Term Success in Gay and Lesbian Relationships.”
Thank you. |
Copyright by the author. All rights reserved. |
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Re: In support of benefits for same-sex couples |
by JM
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
27 Jan 2004
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Kimberlie, I am not sure if you have ever been married but I have never seen a married couple where the wife was the husbands property. Every marriage I have ever seen they were equals working together to achieve common goals and spend their lives together. I have no doubt that also covers same sex relationships... I just think your views of marriage may be a bit off. |