The Universiy of Miami, Ohio, has joined other colleges in offering benefits to employees and their same-sex partners. The plan will give medical coverage and allow for hospital visitation, something not always guaranteed to same-sex couples.
Here in the Distrcit, Georgetown, Gallaudet and AU are among the schools offering commensurate benefits to the same-sex partner of their employees.
One Ohio legislator, however, is not happy. State Rep. Thomas E. Brinkman, Jr. of Cincinnatti is suing the school for offering the benefits, saying it conflicts with a recently passed law defining marriage in Ohio as between a man and a woman. The university is a public institution, and Brinkman believes it is bound my state laws and regulations that prohibit benefits for unmarried spouses and dependents.
Nationwide there are not many schools that offer equal benefits to same-sex couples, according to the GLBTA Resource Center. While colleges are usually more liberal even if in conservative locales, we are glad that the schools are recognizing the need for such policies.
