Victory! Ft. Lauderdale Passes Domestic Partner Benefits for Employees!

Victory! 
Ft. Lauderdale Passes Domestic Partner Benefits for Employees!

I've just left Fort Lauderdale City Hall where moments ago the mayor and commissioners unanimously passed domestic partnership benefits for city employees. Under the new policy, city employees will be able to include their domestic partners on their city health care plan and will be eligible for other vital benefits and protections employee spouses receive.

Mayor Jack Seiler brought forward the issue today after months of meetings with a local coalition of which Equality Florida has been a proud partner. Ft. Lauderdale now joins the growing number of cities, counties and companies that offer equal benefits to LGBT employees.

Thank you Mayor Seiler for making this issue a priority within your administration and to all of the commission for standing up in support of all families.

And a special thank you to our individual and organizational coalition partners who worked so hard on this issue including: the Pride Center; Sunserve; the Dolphin Democrats; the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus; Ken Keechel; Dean Trantalis; and Michael Rajner.

And especially to Miriam Richter whose willingness to share her story and work relentlessly on this issue for more than a year was crucial to today's victory.

Onward to full equality,

Stratton Pollitzer
Deputy Director
Equality Florida