KY's Senate Passes Hateful Legislation

Kentucky Senate passes bill disallowing health care benefits for domestic partners
By: Murray State University’s The News, Robin Phelps

Kentucky's Senate passed a bill last week that will prevent universities and institutions from allowing domestic partner healthcare benefits.The vote passed in the Senate 30-5, according to the Kentucky Kernel. A majority voted that employee benefits should only be available for university employees' spouses and family members.Jody Cofer, program specialist for undergraduate research, said the 2004 marriage amendment should not determine whether domestic partners receive healthcare benefits."Granting benefits is not the same as granting legal status," Cofer said.While Cofer said domestic partner benefits would not constitute a legal marriage, Sen. Ken Winters , R-Murray, said the Senate's Saturday decision was a constitutional choice."Domestic partner benefits is a significant deviation from the Constitution," Winters said. Matthew Middlebrooks, junior from Humbolt, Tenn., said he agrees with the Senate's decision."I support the Senate's decision because otherwise you would have to start giving people's boyfriends and girlfriends benefits," Middlebrooks said. "How can (domestic partners) have the right to be on each other's health insurance when an unmarried straight couple don't have the right to each other's benefits? The Senate says you have to be married, so why make an exception for only homosexuals? You have to do what's fair, that's what it boils down to."For the past two years, Cofer said the Kentucky Fairness Alliance has worked to achieve healthcare benefits for domestic partners within Kentucky's public agencies. By the admittance of domestic partner benefits, Cofer said Murray State would gain a competitive edge.According to the University of Louisville's Web site regarding domestic partner benefits, the university's addition of the policy will encourage the school's diversity; Cofer said he agrees."(This) move means that U. of L. can compete more effectively with the nation's top colleges to recruit outstanding faculty," Cofer said via email."This matters to the competitiveness of our higher education institutions and why, more frankly, a more diverse society is better for all of us." Cofer said he expected the outcome from the Senate last week, but he hopes the bill, once in the hands of Kentucky House's Health and Wealth committee, will grant the authority to universities to make the decision regarding domestic partner benefits. "I'd like to see that esteemed body put a halt to this hateful legislation," Cofer said.While the marriage amendment stands in the way of progress for Kentucky Fairness Alliance members , Cofer continues to stress the issue's importance."It does not directly affect Murray State at this point in the game, but it will at some point in the future," he said. "Where does one draw the line?"