State debates same-sex benefits

Domestic partners of gay and lesbian university employees would be entitled to health benefits under a proposal announced earlier this week by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D).

If the plan, which is part of the governor's budget proposal, is approved by the General Assembly, Maryland would join Washington and 15 other states in offering health insurance benefits to domestic partners. By extension, university employees would be eligible for the benefits guaranteed by the policy.

University administrators emphasized that extending health benefits to same-sex domestic partners would make the state and the university more competitive in attracting top-notch employees. Of the 62 schools that are in the Association of American Universities, an organization of the nation's leading research universities, this university was one of only 10 that didn't offer same-sex domestic partner benefits.

"In order to build a world class university, we need to be able to attract world-class talent," Provost Nariman Farvardin said.

Luke Jensen, director of the office of LBGT Equity, said prospective professors have "frequently" turned down job offers at this university because their domestic partners would not receive coverage under the university's health plan.

"We're at a competitive disadvantage without [this policy]," Jensen said. "If we can't have our first choices, how can we better our students' education."

Gay rights activists added that states and companies that provide health benefits for same-sex domestic partners have a competitive edge over those who do not. About 60 percent of Fortune 1000 companies offer health benefits for domestic partners, said Kate Runyon, executive director of Equality Maryland, the state's largest gay advocacy group.

"Take Michigan, for example," Runyon said. "After the state barred domestic partner benefits, people chose to leave. So, really, passing this kind of legislation only stands to benefit the economy in the long-run."

As many as 300 state employees in a work force of about 70,000 are expected to sign up for the extended health benefits, at a predicted cost of $1 million to $3 million, depending on how many employees enroll, according to a press release from Equality Maryland.

Despite the state's projected $2 billion deficit next year and tight budgets threatening program cuts and layoffs both at the state and university level, state and university officials laud the governor's decision to introduce the legislation for its symbolic value.

"The economic impact, right now, is unknown," Farvardin said. "But this is absolutely the right thing to do regardless."

Farvardin, who oversees faculty recruitment, added that he and university President Dan Mote have been unconditional supporters of the policy, regardless of whether they receive state support to fund it. He noted that even if the legislation passes, the state may not provide extra funds to the university to make up for the extra health benefits the university would have to provide.

"We don't know right now if we'll get any state support," he said. "It's possible [the state] will instate this and not provide any extra support. But I don't think the costs to the university will be enormous either way."

Equality Maryland projects that no more than 1 percent of state and university employees will likely sign up for domestic partner benefits, Runyon said.

"The impact will be huge and the cost will be small," Jensen added.

But Jensen added there is no way to accurately calculate the number of LBGT employees at the university who would benefit from the legislation.

"Every time there is an attempt to assess the number of LBGT employees [at this university], the best we can do is say, 'We know there are at least this many,'" Jensen said. "But regardless, it will make a big difference to those who do work here. It sends a message. It says that yes, you're valued and being treated equally."

State legislators are confident the measure will pass.

"It's almost certain to happen," said Scott Tsikerdanos, a legislative aide for state Sen. Richard S. Madaleno (D-Montgomery), who was the first openly gay senator elected in the state. "It's just one of those issues that's about fairness and equality. A lot of state and university employees are single-handedly handicapped by their partners not being eligible for benefits. It's kind of a no-brainer."

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